Watkins, James D., 1927-2012

James David Watkins was born March 7, 1927, in Alhambra, California. He received a B.S., from the United States Naval Academy in 1949 and received his master's degree in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1958. Admiral Watkins spent thirty-seven years in the Navy, serving on destroyers, cruisers and submarines, and shore assignments in personnel management. During his tenure in the U. S. Navy, he served as Chief of Naval Personnel, Commander of the Sixth Fleet, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, and Commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet. He served as Chief of Naval Operations from June 30, 1982 to June 30, 1986. He was Chairman, Presidential Commission on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Epidemic, from June 26, 1987 to June 26, 1988. He was nominated to be Secretary of Energy January 20, 1989, confirmed on March 1, 1989, and served March 1, 1989 to January 20, 1993. He was president of the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education from 1994 to March 2001. He was president of the Joint Oceanographic Institutions, 1993 to 2001. He served as Chairman of the United States Commission on Ocean Policy in 2001.