Paul Watkins

Paul Watkins has amassed a wealth of experience in both the public and private sectors. His understanding and experience accrued at the intersection of these two sectors provide him with highly valuable skills that will strengthen the Strategic Partnerships Inc. (SPI) Team.

Following his college graduation, Paul was commissioned as an Army Officer. He served on active duty as a Field Artillery Officer and attended the U.S. Army Airborne School and U.S. Army Ranger school.

Paul purchased a small local trucking business while continuing his military service with the U.S. Army Reserves and National Guard. During this time, he built his trucking business into the 12th largest refrigerated trucking company in the country. When he was recalled to active duty in 2006, Paula sold his business and served a combat tour in Iraq.

After returning from his Army service, Paul started work for the state of Texas as a Deputy Assistant Director in the Texas Department of Public Safety. He also led office operations at the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. In that role, he was responsible for leading much of the transformation that the agency initiated. This included building new offices, hiring and training hundreds of new employees, and implementing numerous new technologies.

Paul retired from Texas State Guard as a Brigadier General and subsequently retired from the Texas Department of Public Safety. After that, he consulted for the Institute for Government Innovation at Texas State University and enjoyed some time working as a high school football official.

Paul holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Strategic Partnerships is delighted to welcome Paul to our team as a consultant.