WATKINS JACK L. (MAJOR GENERAL, USAF RET.) General Watkins, 84 , died July 31, 2013. A native of Pittsburgh, he was born to Charles and Helen Watkins. He graduated South High School in 1946 and entered the army where he qualified as a parachutist and gliderist before separating in 1948 to attend college. General Watkins was recalled to active duty in September 1950 as a result of the Korean Conflict and served with anti-aircraft units as a battery executive officer and commander in the United States and Germany. He separated from the Army in August 1952 and returned to the University of Pittsburgh, graduating in 1954 with a degree in Political Science. He also attended the University of New Mexico. He was a graduate of Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS, and Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. The general received a direct commission as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and entered pilot training in the spring of 1955. After graduating in 1956, he served until May 1961 with Tactical Air Command and Military Transport Service units engaged in troop carrier operations. During this time, he participated in the Lebanon crisis, the Congo airlift and the Taiwan Straits incident. He next was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., and served in various staff positions in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Research and Development. In 1963, he transferred to the Air Force Systems Command, Research and Technology Division, Bolling AFB, D.C., where he served as aide-de-camp to the commander until the summer of 1964. He then attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. In July 1965, General Watkins moved to Albuquerque, NM for an assignment with Joint Task Force Two, a Joint Chiefs of Staff operational testing organization involved in conducting low altitude penetration tests. In 1969, he graduated the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He then served as professor of aerospace studies, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. at the University of Pittsburgh until December 1970. From January 1971 to February 1973, he was vice-commandant, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. at Maxwell AFB, where he supervised corps activities in colleges, universities and high schools nationwide. From February 1973 until June 1974, General Watkins was vice- commander and commander of the 41 Oth Bombardment Wing, K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan. The wing, equipped with B-52H's and KC-135A's, was the first B-52 unit to become operational with the short-range attack missile and the electro-optical viewing system. General Watkins transferred to Griffiss AFB, New York in July 1974, where he commanded the 410th Bombardment Wing and was host commander for tenant units of three major Air Force Commands: Air Force Communications Service, Air Force Systems Command, and Aerospace Defense Command. In July 1975, General Watkins assumed command of the 45th Air Division at Pease Air Force Base, NH. In this capacity he had command responsibility for four bombardment units: two FB-111 and two B-52 wings. In addition, General Watkins monitored the conversion and readiness status of four SAC-gained KC-135 Air National Guard units. The general was assigned to SAC headquarters at Offutt AFB, Nebraska in November 1977 as assistant deputy chief of staff, operations. In June 1978, he became deputy chief of staff, operations. He was responsible for aircraft and missile operations, fforce readiness, command and control, crew training, current operations, operational test and evaluation, strategic reconnaissance and meteorological support for SAC's worldwide mission. The command noted several significant achievements while General Watkins was deputy chief of staff for operations. Among them were the first Exercise Global Shield, the largest SAC readiness exercise in 20 years, acceptance of the first SAC E-4B, the National Emergency Airborne Command Post aircraft, the completion of the full complement of KC-135 tanker aircraft into the Air Reserve force, and the integration of the first female crew members into the alert forces for KC-135's and Titan II missiles. In August 1979, General Watkins became vice commander, 15th Air Force, with headquarters at March AFB, CA. The 15th Air force was responsible for all SAC aircraft and missile operations in the western United States and Alaska. He assumed command of the 1st Strategic Aerospace Division, Strategic Air Command, with headquarters at Vandenberg AFB, CA in November 1980. He was responsible for directing all SAC missile combat crew training, controlling and conducting SAC ballistic missile operational testing, and providing host base support for all tenants at Vandenberg, including Air Force Systems Command, Military Airlift Command and Air Force Communications Command. General Watkins was a command pilot with more than 10,000 flying hours in 20 different types of aircraft, during the Cold War when SAC kept an airborne command post, nicknamed the Looking Glass, in the air at all times, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, he was the on-board commander longer than any other general officer, serving from June 1975 through September 1986. While serving in the Army, he received the gliderist and parachutist badges, the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation (Germany) Medal. As an Air Force officer, he wore the command pilot, master missile, and master space badges. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal. He believed in keeping close ties with the civilian community, and while at Vandenberg he served as the campaign chairman for California's Central Coast United Way and was a member of the Board of Directors. One of his proudest moments was reciting the Lincoln's Portrait and conducting the Stars and Stripes Forever for the Santa Maria Symphony in 1984. General Watkins retired after 40 years of service in 1986 to Santa Maria, where he served on the Santa Barbara County Tax Assessment Appeals Board. General Watkins is preceded in death by his parents, a younger sister, Shirley and his older sister, Winifrede. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; daughter of Anna Kring, now deceased, of Johnstown, PA; his son, Mark of Las Vegas, NV; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Services will be private. Remembrance can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758-517, Topeka, Kansas 66675. Arrangements are under the direction of DUDLEY - HOFFMAN MORTUARY, CREMATORY AND MEMORY GARDENS. Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb
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