Died at his home in Alexandria, Virginia, on July 26, age 85. Adm. Watkins was born in Pasadena, California. He graduated in 1949 from the Naval Academy and became a protege of Adm. Hyman Rickover, founder of the U.S. nuclear navy. Adm. Watkins spent the majority of his career commanding vessels under nuclear power, eventually to become chief of naval operations and the Navy's representaive on the joint chiefs of staff. He was considered an architect of the Strategic Defense Initiative, the missile shield and planned response to a Soviet nuclear attack. In 1987 President Ronald Reagan named him to lead the President's Commission on the HIV Epidemic. Adm. Watkins' military decorations include two awards of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, three awards of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, three awards of the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star. In 2008, President George W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Citizens Medal. Adm. Watkins served as Secretary of the Department of Energy under President George H.W. Bush. During the 2000s, Adm. Watkins was appointed by George W. Bush as chair of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. He later co-chaired the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.
Admiral Watkins' first wife Sheila died in 1996. Survivors include his wife of 12 years, Janet Tobin McDonough Watkins; six children from his first marriage, Catherine, Laura, Charles, Susan, James and Edward; four stepchildren, Chris McDonough, Sean McDonough, Robert McDonough and Siobhan McDonough; a brother, 16 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Brial was held at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will be September 26.