Bio

Master Sergeant Watkins, an accomplished Army Veteran with an exceptional military résumé that spans 29 years, is one of the first women in the military to become an Army Pathfinder. A Pathfinder is a soldier who goes into battle ahead of the command unit and sets up the drop zone, helicopter pick up zone, or landing zone for receiving incoming troops and equipment.

In 1995, MSG Watkins earned the Army Pathfinder Badge as a Specialist/E-4. This two-week course had a 50% failure rate. She went to Army Flight School in 1997 and flew the TH-67, OH-58, and the UH-1H earning over 120 hours of flight time. She also helped test the cockpit of the RAH-66 Comanche Helicopter.

She spent five years at the US Army Airborne School, 1st Battalion, 507th Infantry located at Fort Benning, GA where she worked in Battalion S-1 and was the Supply Sergeant at Jump Branch. She was the Enlisted Honor Graduate of her Airborne class of over 400 students. She completed over 40 static line jumps from various aircraft (C-130, C-141, UH-60, and one ramp jump).

She was an original team member on both the 45th Civil Support Team (Administrative / Decontamination / Training NCO) in Smyrna, TN and the 21st Civil Support Team (Operations NCO / Hazard Modeler) at Fort Dix, NJ, and was directly responsible for the initial federal certification for operational performance (Exit Evaluation - EXEVAL) of both teams.

She was Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC) of the first National Guard Bureau Operation Warrior Gauntlet, Army Warrior Training in the National Capital Region. She spent five years as the National Guard Liaison at the JFK Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, NC. She also had the honor and privilege of escorting three Army soldiers to their final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

She helped build, develop, and implement the Human Resources Management System (HRMS) used by the National Guard Bureau (NGB) to track Soldier and civilian data, process orders, manage movement, etc. which is still in use today. She earned five Foreign Parachutist Badges: Chilean Parachutist Badge, Honduran Military Airborne Badge, French Army Parachutist Badge, German Armed Forces Parachutist Badge, and the Royal Netherlands Parachute Badge.

She received a Certificate of Excellence for scoring 290 and 300 (maximum score) on the Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 (respectively) Army Physical Fitness Test.She consistently ranked at the top of every leadership course she attended. After promotion to Master Sergeant (E-8), she was consistently rated at the top of her group for promotion to Sergeant Major (E-9).

While stationed at the National Guard Bureau, a colleague noticed she was depressed, using the term "high functioning depression". Based on the definition of high functioning depression, she noticed it didn't quite fit. She was never hopeless and she was never helpless. Once she broke out of her shell and started sharing her story, she found that it immediately resonated with all whom she speaks. She’s developed many principles throughout her military career that enabled her to handle any situation that came her way.

MSG Watkins has been showing people the best path to success nearly her entire life. “Throughout my military career I dealt with a lot of hostility and conflict. I dealt with a lot of toxic people and despite this, I was still very successful. My last few years in the military were the most mentally challenging thing I had ever experienced. But using my previous experiences, I managed to come out on top. I want to show people how I did this.”

Adding “Author” to an already-impressive resume, her new book "PathfYnder: How I Use Personal Courage and Emotional Control to Face Fear, Build Success, and Get What I Want" takes readers on an illuminating and empowering journey to finding their best selves. Leveraging her own experiences – no story is off limits – MSG Watkins lays the path to navigating hostile work environments, toxic leadership, and more.

Now retired from the military, MSG Watkins spends her time giving back. She joined the American Legion in November 2017 and in June 2018, was elected Adjutant of Post 202 in Fayetteville, NC. She was on the cover of the November 2018 issue of the Legion magazine. Currently she's a Veteran Mentor for the Williamson County Veterans Treatment Court. She spends her time soul line dancing and Chicago Steppin'. She's also a dance instructor and choreographer and has a YouTube channel (@Petiteprincess92) with over 2.1 million views and over 3200 subscribers. MSG Watkins retired in 2017, achieving the second highest enlisted rank in the Army. She’s a life member of the Associates of Vietnam Veterans. She has one son, Eric, who's a graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University who now resides in Daytona Beach, FL.