Kenneth D. Watson
About Kenneth D. Watson
Kenneth D. Watson, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Maintenance Policy and Programs. In this capacity, he serves as the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Materiel Readiness and provides oversight of the Department's annual $90 billion maintenance program. He also develops policies and procedures for maintenance support of major weapon systems and military equipment within the Department of Defense. He assumed his current position in January 2017.
Mr. Watson previously served as the Deputy Director, Strategy, Capabilities, Policy, and Logistics, U.S. Transportation Command. During this assignment he also deployed to Afghanistan as the Director of Sustainment under the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan. He has served in numerous Joint assignments, serving as the Deputy Chief of the Capabilities Division in the Directorate of Logistics (J4), the Joint Staff, also deploying to Iraq under the Office of Security Cooperation - Iraq. He is a 2011 graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort Leslie J. McNair in Washington, D.C. and graduate of the Defense Senior Leader Development Program 2010 cohort. On the Air Staff he was the Deputy to the Associate Director of Resource Integration assigned to the Directorate of Resource Integration, Deputy Chief of Staff/Logistics, Installation & Mission Support, Pentagon, Washington D.C. With the associate director, he was responsible for Air Force logistics, installations and mission support long-range planning, strategic support planning and associated policies.
Mr. Watson began his civil service career in 1989 as Palace Acquire Intern Inventory Management Specialist at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, California. His diverse experience includes Logistics Management for the F-117A and Commander in Chief Mobile Alternate Headquarters programs. He managed airborne electrical accessories for the Commodities Division at Sacramento Air Logistics Center. Watson served as a Logistics Plans specialist while assigned to HQ USAF on a Logistics Civilian Career Program career broadening position. He also performed logistics requirements analysis, Acquisition Program management, and was chief of the Strategic Planning Division, Plans and Programs Directorate, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Watson served for three years overseas as the deputy for Mission Support, 31st Mission Support Group at Aviano Air Base, Italy. He holds both baccalaureate and masters' degrees.