Daniel J. Watson, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Command Counsel at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He is the senior legal advisor to the AFMC commander and staff. Mr. Watson is responsible for legal services provided to an organization with 89,000 personnel who manage $72 billion annually in research, development, test and evaluation while providing the acquisition management services and logistics support required to develop, procure and sustain Air Force weapon systems.
Mr. Watson enlisted in the Air Force in 1993 and served as a Security Forces Military Working Dog Handler before separating in 1997. He received a direct commission as an Air Force Judge Advocate and re-entered active duty in February 2004. Mr. Watson served in a variety of legal advisor and leadership positions, including as a Contract Law Attorney, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate and three assignments as a Staff Judge Advocate. In 2024, he retired from active duty after 24 years of total service at the rank of colonel.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Watson served as an acquisition attorney providing advice to senior leaders, program managers and contracting officers in the most difficult, complex and highly specialized areas of contract law related to the Air Force's most critical acquisition priorities. Mr. Watson is admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of the United States and the Supreme Court of Ohio.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Magna Cum Laude, Cleveland State University, Ohio
2003 Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Ohio
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Master of Laws in Government Procurement with Highest Honors, The George Washington University Law School, Washington, D.C.
2011 Air Command and Staff College Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. December 1993–May 1994, Basic Military Training/Technical School Student, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. June 1994–August 1997, Law Enforcement Specialist/Military Working Dog Handler, 88th Security Police Squadron, Wright- Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. May 2004–November 2006, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, Cannon AFB, N.M.
4. November 2006–June 2008, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, Hickam AFB, Hawaii (September 2007–March 2008, Rule of Law Attorney, Multi-National Corps-Iraq Civil Affairs, U.S. Embassy, Baghdad, Iraq)
5. June 2008–July 2009, Area Defense Counsel, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
6. August 2009–June 2010, LL.M. Student, The George Washington University Law School, Washington, D.C.
7. June 2010–July 2012, Contract Law Attorney, Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
8. July 2012–June 2015, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 412th Test Wing, Edwards AFB, Calif. (April 2013–September 2013, Deputy Legal Advisor, Office of Security Cooperation, U.S. Embassy, Baghdad, Iraq)
9. July 2015–July 2017, Staff Judge Advocate, Arnold Engineering Development Complex, Arnold AFB, Tenn.
10. July 2017–July 2018, Staff Judge Advocate, Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
11. July 2018–January 2019, Staff Judge Advocate, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
12. January 2019–June 2019, Deputy Chief, Acquisition Law, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
13. July 2019–July 2023, Chief, Acquisition Law Division, Air Force Materiel Command Law Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
14. July 2023–May 2024, Chief, Acquisition Law Division, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
15. November 2024–September 2025, Acquisition Attorney, Acquisition Law Division, Air Force Materiel Command Law Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
16. September 2025–present, Command Counsel, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Iraq Campaign Medal
2018 ACC Medium Legal Office of the Year
2015 AFMC Small Legal Office of the Year
2014 412th Test Wing - Wing Staff Agency Field Grade Officer of the Year
1994 88th Security Police Squadron Airman of the Year
(Current as of September 2025)