James Louis Watson, Jr.
Honored to be a member of Company I-4 “IBEAM!!!” all 4 years. Jim’s academic concentration was in Civil Engineering, and he branched into the Field Artillery (FA) after graduating from West Point on 27 May 1981. After attending the FA Officer Basic Course, which he completed in early 1982, Jim returned to West Point to marry Patricia Jeanne Christie in the Catholic Chapel on 23 January.
After a brief honeymoon at the Bear Mountain Inn, they flew to Colorado Springs and Fort Carson, where Jim signed into 1-20 FA at Fort Carson. Jim served there in a variety of FA positions, including two Battery Commands, first with Service Battery and then Charlie Battery.
Their next assignment was back to Fort Sill to attend the FA Advanced Course. But just before moving, their son, James Michael Watson, was born at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver. Although born 11 weeks premature, weighing only 31/2 pounds, Michael’s health improved rapidly, mainly thanks to the medical care team led by Dr. Dean Taylor, USMA 1981 (and Jim’s Beast Squadmate). Their kind, professional care ensured Michael’s strength and health to this day!
After the FA Advanced Course, Jim and family were reassigned for a 3-year tour to West Germany to the 74th US Field Artillery Detachment (Pershing). There, Jim developed his technical skills with long-range missiles and his diplomatic skills by working closely with the 1st German Surface-to-Surface Missile Wing, which manned the Pershing 1A missiles, while Jim’s team provided the care and control of the warheads.
Next, Jim and his family moved to the Denver, Colorado area, where Jim attended the Colorado School of Mines and earned a Master’s Degree in Operations Research and Mathematics. This led to his assignment back at West Point in the newly formed Department of Systems Engineering. There, Jim taught Engineering Economics (time value of money analysis) full-time in his first year, and in the next two years, he taught only one section while also conducting 3 distinct Operations Research Analysis projects for Headquarters, Department of the Army, and what was then called the Army Materiel Command.
After that tour at West Point, Jim and his family moved to Kansas for a year for him to attend the Command and General Staff College, which led to the next assignment to the 1st Cavalry Division, starting first as the Brigade Fire Support Officer for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) with two 5-month deployments to Kuwait. This was followed by an assignment as the Battalion Executive Officer for the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery. Jim completed his assignment with the 1st CAV with a yearlong assignment as the Secretary of the General Staff supporting the Chief of Staff and Commanding General of the 1st CAV.
Jim’s last assignment as an active-duty officer was at the Pentagon, serving as a Program Analyst for Field Artillery programs in the famous Program Analysis & Evaluation (PAE). Here, Jim was responsible for programming the funding for all Field Artillery acquisition programs in balance with the rest of the Army budget programs.
After completing his 20-year active-duty military career, Jim retired in 2001 and began his career as a military contractor. Jim served as a contractor in several positions, landing finally as the Budget coordinator for the Field Artillery programs in Army G-8, and was then hired as the Deputy Division Chief for that Division as a GS-15. Jim enjoyed the camaraderie and teamwork leading such wonderful teammates, and was fortunate to be selected to participate in the Defense Senior Leader Development Program (DSLDP), which is a 2-year program.
During the first year of DSLDP, Jim was a student in the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, which culminated in a two-week trip, first to Silicon Valley to visit companies like Google and Apple, and then a week in the People’s Republic of China to visit similar companies in that country. After that year in school, Jim was then assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, where he helped coordinate policy positions on the use of US space assets.
With the 2-year DSLDP program completed, Jim was then assigned to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Stuttgart, Germany (note no “West”). Here, Jim served as the Director of Staff for the J1/8 staff, assisting in coordinating personnel and funding in support of AFRICOM’s work with countries across Africa.
After 2 years with AFRICOM, Jim was reassigned to HQDA G-8, where he served as the Deputy Division Chief for the Warfighting Analysis Division from 2017 to 2025, providing Senior Leaders of the Army with reliable quantitative analysis in support of many key acquisition and operational decisions.
On 4 April 2025, Jim retired after completing his GS career and is now enjoying the countryside views from his new home in Culpeper, Virginia. Throughout his career, Jim was honored to serve his nation, his family, and his friends. He is grateful for the wonderful times he has shared with all.
After a brief honeymoon at the Bear Mountain Inn, they flew to Colorado Springs and Fort Carson, where Jim signed into 1-20 FA at Fort Carson. Jim served there in a variety of FA positions, including two Battery Commands, first with Service Battery and then Charlie Battery.
Their next assignment was back to Fort Sill to attend the FA Advanced Course. But just before moving, their son, James Michael Watson, was born at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver. Although born 11 weeks premature, weighing only 31/2 pounds, Michael’s health improved rapidly, mainly thanks to the medical care team led by Dr. Dean Taylor, USMA 1981 (and Jim’s Beast Squadmate). Their kind, professional care ensured Michael’s strength and health to this day!
After the FA Advanced Course, Jim and family were reassigned for a 3-year tour to West Germany to the 74th US Field Artillery Detachment (Pershing). There, Jim developed his technical skills with long-range missiles and his diplomatic skills by working closely with the 1st German Surface-to-Surface Missile Wing, which manned the Pershing 1A missiles, while Jim’s team provided the care and control of the warheads.
Next, Jim and his family moved to the Denver, Colorado area, where Jim attended the Colorado School of Mines and earned a Master’s Degree in Operations Research and Mathematics. This led to his assignment back at West Point in the newly formed Department of Systems Engineering. There, Jim taught Engineering Economics (time value of money analysis) full-time in his first year, and in the next two years, he taught only one section while also conducting 3 distinct Operations Research Analysis projects for Headquarters, Department of the Army, and what was then called the Army Materiel Command.
After that tour at West Point, Jim and his family moved to Kansas for a year for him to attend the Command and General Staff College, which led to the next assignment to the 1st Cavalry Division, starting first as the Brigade Fire Support Officer for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) with two 5-month deployments to Kuwait. This was followed by an assignment as the Battalion Executive Officer for the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery. Jim completed his assignment with the 1st CAV with a yearlong assignment as the Secretary of the General Staff supporting the Chief of Staff and Commanding General of the 1st CAV.
Jim’s last assignment as an active-duty officer was at the Pentagon, serving as a Program Analyst for Field Artillery programs in the famous Program Analysis & Evaluation (PAE). Here, Jim was responsible for programming the funding for all Field Artillery acquisition programs in balance with the rest of the Army budget programs.
After completing his 20-year active-duty military career, Jim retired in 2001 and began his career as a military contractor. Jim served as a contractor in several positions, landing finally as the Budget coordinator for the Field Artillery programs in Army G-8, and was then hired as the Deputy Division Chief for that Division as a GS-15. Jim enjoyed the camaraderie and teamwork leading such wonderful teammates, and was fortunate to be selected to participate in the Defense Senior Leader Development Program (DSLDP), which is a 2-year program.
During the first year of DSLDP, Jim was a student in the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, which culminated in a two-week trip, first to Silicon Valley to visit companies like Google and Apple, and then a week in the People’s Republic of China to visit similar companies in that country. After that year in school, Jim was then assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, where he helped coordinate policy positions on the use of US space assets.
With the 2-year DSLDP program completed, Jim was then assigned to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Stuttgart, Germany (note no “West”). Here, Jim served as the Director of Staff for the J1/8 staff, assisting in coordinating personnel and funding in support of AFRICOM’s work with countries across Africa.
After 2 years with AFRICOM, Jim was reassigned to HQDA G-8, where he served as the Deputy Division Chief for the Warfighting Analysis Division from 2017 to 2025, providing Senior Leaders of the Army with reliable quantitative analysis in support of many key acquisition and operational decisions.
On 4 April 2025, Jim retired after completing his GS career and is now enjoying the countryside views from his new home in Culpeper, Virginia. Throughout his career, Jim was honored to serve his nation, his family, and his friends. He is grateful for the wonderful times he has shared with all.