Colonel Rob Watkins is the Deputy Commander of the 17th Training Wing, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. In this role, he serves as the principal advisor to the Wing Commander, overseeing two training groups, and a mission support group. Together, these groups deliver joint-service training and support to more than 14,000 graduates annually in fire protection and technical intelligence across four geographically separated units in California, Arizona, Florida, and Virginia. Additionally, Colonel Watkins directs 13 wing staff agencies and assists the commander in managing $1.5 billion in real property, equipment, supplies, and contracts. He also spearheads training and support operations for the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Space Force, Coast Guard, other government agencies, allied nations, and seven partner organizations.
Colonel Watkins earned his commission in 2004 as a graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 770, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina. He has commanded at the squadron level and served in critical Finance and Intelligence roles, building operational and support expertise across both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. Throughout his career, Colonel Watkins has led high-impact missions spanning the strategic, operational, and tactical echelons, including combat deployments in direct support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Watkins served as Deputy Director of Intelligence, Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF), Fort Meade, Maryland. In this role he was responsible for leading ISR operations for a 2,000-member Joint Force executing full-spectrum cyber effects and information operations globally.
Colonel Watkins a native of Sumter, South Carolina, served as a chief architect of the U.S. Space Force Intelligence Enterprise. A founding member of both Space Delta 7 and the National Space Intelligence Center (NSIC /Space Delta 18), he directly shaped the nation's premier space intelligence capabilities. Over more than two decades of dedicated service, Colonel Watkins has consistently driven organizational modernization, bridging air, space and cyber capabilities in support of national security objectives.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.
2005 Air and Space Basic Course, In-residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala
2005 Air Force Finance Officer Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2012 Air Force Intelligence Officer Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
2013 Squadron Officer School, In-residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Master of Arts in Intelligence Studies: Homeland Security, American Military University, W. Va
2016 ISR 300 (Formerly Intelligence Master Skills Course), Goodfellow AFB, Texas
2018 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2023 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2026 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 2005 – May 2006, Deputy Chief Financial Management, Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB, Fla.
2. June 2006 – June 2008, Financial Manager Miniature Air Launch Decoy, Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB, Fla.
3. July 2008 – April 2009, Budget Analyst, 96th Mission Support Group, Eglin AFB, Fla.
4. May 2009 – September 2009, Comptroller, 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
5. October 2009 – September 2011, Chief of Resource Management, Special Operations Command Europe, Patch Barracks, Germany
6. September 2011 – April 2012, Student, Intelligence Officer Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
7. July 2012 – April 2013, Officer In Charge 12th Reconnaissance Squadron Intelligence, Beale AFB, Calif.
8. May 2013 – May 2014, Officer In Charge 489th/427th Reconnaissance Squadron Intelligence, Beale AFB, Calif.
9. June 2014 – April 2015, Deputy Chief Wing Intelligence, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, Calif.
10. April 2015 – June 2018, Cyber Team Lead & Assistant Director of Operations, 41st Intelligence Squadron, Ft Meade, Md.
11. June 2018 – July 2019, Executive Officer to the Commander, Cyber National Mission Force, Fort Meade, Md.
12. July 2019 – July 2020, Director of Operations, 18th Intelligence Squadron, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
13. July 2020 – June 2021, Director of Operations, 73rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron (USSF), Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
14. June 2021 – June 2022, Commander, Counterspace Analysis Squadron, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
15. June 2022 – June 2023, Commander, 2nd Space Analysis Squadron (USSF), Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
16. July 2023 – July 2024, Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations, Headquarters Air Force, Washington, D.C.
17. July 2024 – July 2025, Deputy Director of Intelligence, Cyber National Mission Force, Fort Meade, Md.
18. July 2025 – May 2026, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
19. July 2026 – Present, Deputy Commander, 17th Training Wing, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
July 2024 – July 2025, Deputy Director of Intelligence, Cyber National Mission Force, Fort Meade, Md., as a Lieutenant Colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2023 United States Space Force ISR Unit of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
First Lieutenant
January 15, 2007
Captain
January 15, 2009
Major
June 1, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel
November 1, 2019
Colonel
April 1, 2026
Current as of July 2026