Meet Bill Watkins, a Marine veteran serving as the Director of Program Management for Information Technology and overseeing IT and security systems, which enables NNSA to execute its mission.

What is your academic background?

I am a military veteran and began my career in the U.S. Marine Corps. After starting my studies in computer science as a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy, I finished my bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix. I received my master’s degree in Information Technology with a concentration in Information Assurance and Security from American Public University. I also hold Certified Information Systems Security Professional and Project Management Professional certifications.

What is your job here at NNSA? How does it align to our mission? 

I am the Director of Program Management for Information Technology within the Office of the Associate Administrator for Information Management and Chief Information Officer at NNSA. In my role, I am responsible for the design, planning, implementation, and maintenance of NNSA's security systems infrastructure and ensuring cybersecurity is embedded in IT systems. I provide oversight to ensure the successful deployment of NNSA information systems, enterprise IT solutions, and network architectures to meet NNSA’s mission and security requirements.

What is your proudest accomplishment while working at NNSA?

I remain in awe of the work ethic of Federal employees and their service and commitment to the federal government.

Is there something you’ve learned here that you didn’t know before?

Our organization is vast and complex. I was surprised by the caliber of resources and systems are needed to successfully execute productivity in my environment.

How is NNSA different from your military experience?

The key difference between NNSA and serving in the military is the structure of decision makers and the number of stakeholders. Within the NNSA, there are various complexities to ensure projects and tasks are accomplished. In our organization, it is a necessity to facilitate an abundance of collaboration and teamwork. In the military, processes and procedures are regimented and decision makers are clearly defined.

Tell us a little about yourself – a fun fact about yourself or a personal hobby.

When not maintaining NNSA’s IT and security systems, I enjoy riding my motorcycle and all things football. Most notably, I played as a wide receiver during an Army vs. Navy game.