Dr. Jillian T. Watson, Ph.D., a member of the Senior Executive Service is the Director of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection (A4), Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. The directorate provides maintenance, supply, transportation, civil engineering, and security forces support for 1,500 aircraft, 300,000 annual student load, 62,000 permanently assigned personnel, and 11 Air Force installations. She also oversees plans and policies supporting integration of new aircraft into the command inventory, including the T-7A, F-35A, MH-139A, A/MC-130J, and HH-60W.
Prior to her current assignment, Dr. Watson served as the Director, Air Force Metrology and Calibration, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WNM, Heath, Ohio. Dr. Watson began her Air Force career in June 2000 as a Palace Acquire Intern performing logistics management for the HH-60G Pave Hawk in the Special Operations Forces System Program Office at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. She has served in a diverse set of assignments including Logistics Management Specialist at Headquarters Air Force, Air Logistics Center, and program office level, as well as at Headquarters, Defense Logistics Agency. She has Joint program experience as Deputy Assistant Program Manager for Logistics for the F-35A Lightning II at the Joint Strike Fighter Joint Program Office as well as serving in acquisition program manager and financial management roles at the United States Transportation Command.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Administration of Justice, Pennsylvania State University, Abington, Pa.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ga., by correspondence
2005 Master of Business Administration, Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, Ga.
2006 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Ph.D., Management, Operations and Supply Chain Concentration, Clemson University, S.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 2000–September 2004, Palace Acquire Intern and then Program Manager, HH-60G IPT, Special Operations Forces System Program Office, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.
2. September 2004–January 2006, Logistics Management Specialist, Plans and Programs Directorate, Warner Robins ALC, Robins AFB, Ga.
3.January 2006–August 2007, SOF/CSAR Aircraft Logistics Management Specialist, Product Support Branch, AF/A4LY, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
4. August 2007–May 2009, Ph.D. Student, Research Assistant and Instructor of Record, Department of Management, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.
5. May 2009–October 2010, Manpower and Civilian Personnel Branch Chief, AF/A4/7PE, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
6. October 2010–December 2013, Logistics Management Specialist, Defense Logistics Agency J35, Headquarters, Defense Logistics Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va.
7. December 2013–November 2014, Financial Management Specialist - J6 Resource Management, Directorate of Financial Management and Program Evaluation, United States Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
8. November 2014–December 2016, Acquisition Program Manager, Distribution Process Owner Programs Division, PEO-Transportation, USTRANSCOM, Scott AFB, Ill.
9. December 2016–October 2019, Deputy Assistant Program Manager for Logistics for F-35A, Joint Strike Fighter Joint Program Office, Arlington, Va.
10. October 2019–August 2023, Product Support Manager/Chief of Logistics, Air Force Metrology and Calibration Division, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WNM, Heath, Ohio
11. August 2023–October 2024, Director, Air Force Metrology and Calibration, AFLCMC/WNM, Heath, Ohio
12. October 2024–present, Director, Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award
Air Force Civilian Achievement Award
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Lifecycle Logistics – Level III (Advanced)
Program Management – Level III (Advanced)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Member Acquisition Corps Logistics Officers Association
(Current as of October 2024)