US Navy Vice Admiral. After high school Watkins enrolled at George Washington University in 1917. The following year Watkins entered the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1922. After graduation he reported to the U.S.S. Mississippi which he served on until June of 1925. After qualifying in submarines at the Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut in December 1925 he served until June of 1929 in the USS S-8 and the USS S-16. He was then transferred to duty at the Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor where he remained until April 1931. Following ten months duty on the USS S-27 he was transferred to the USS S-29 in February of 1932 and in March assumed command of that submarine. In June of 1934 he was transferred to the Production Division of the Navy Yard at Mare Island, California until May 1936. The next three years he commanded the Submarine U.S.S. Cachalot. He next reported for duty in the Fleet Training Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington. In May 1941 he was assigned as Assistant Naval Attaché at the American Embassy in London, England and in September of that year was designated Special Naval Observer. During his assignment in England he served in the British submarine Torbay, the submarine tenders MaidStone and Medway, and the destroyer Whitehall. He returned to the United States in November of 1941 just prior to the Japanese attack on Pear Harbor. After two months duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operation he was ordered to command Submarine Experimental Division One. He commanded the submarine U.S.S Flying Fish in 1943 as well as another tour of duty on the submarine U.S.S. Cachalot. From October of 1945 to April of 1946 Watkins was the Commanding Officer of the Cruiser U.S.S. Guam. He served at Pearl Harbor, as Division Commander, and at New London, Connecticut, as Commander Submarine Atlantic Norfolk, and Commander Anti Submarine Warfare. Watkins was also the Commander Mine Force, United States Atlantic Fleet. He was promoted to Rear Admiral on December 1, 1948. He lastly was appointed the Commanding Officer of Submarines Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet from 1954 to 1957. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star with Combat "V". He retired in 1960 as a Vice Admiral.