JASON Watkins was born and raised in Quincy and is an alumnus of St. Mary’s (1997) and Quincy Notre Dame (2001). After graduation, he joined the United States Army OSUT (2001). He went on to pursue an extensive academic career, which included JWCC (2005), Western Illinois University (2007), and Keller Graduate School of Management (2022). He holds a master’s in human resource management and is an educational doctorate candidate for 2026.

Watkins is on the board of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and Adams County Veterans Assistance Commission.