Bio of Aaron Watkins
Aaron B. Watkins, a native of Memphis, Tennessee and a graduate of Melrose High School enrolled at Tuskegee University in August 1963, majoring in Electronics with a minor in Business. Aaron made the Dean’s list while becoming a Commissioned Officer in ROTC and completing the Army ROTC Flight Instruction Program under Chief Charles Alfred Anderson (the chief instructor to the Tuskegee Airmen who flew Eleanor Roosevelt). Aaron became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity in the spring of 1965 and received his 50th year pin in 2015. He was inducted into Tuskegee University Sports Hall of Fame in 2013 for baseball. Aaron earned his A.A.S. Degree in computers from City College of Chicago and MBA in Business from the University of Detroit.
Aaron served in the United States Army as an officer in the Signal Corp / Aviation Branch, completed his aviation training for helicopters, received his wings, and was selected for advanced training for the Chinook Helicopter in 1968. CPT Watkins served in Vietnam in the Central Highlands as aircraft commander of the Chinook where he received the Bronze Star and the air medal. Returning to the United States, he was sent to Frankfurt, Germany as operation officer and later promoted to Company Commander of the Data Processing Company. CPT Watkins’ final assignment was as a Military Academy Liaison Officer for the US Military Academy at West Point, NY. Aaron is listed in the book “The 600 M.O,L. Black Helicopters Pilots in Vietnam” by Dr. Joe Ponds. The book states “There were 37,500 Army helicopter pilots trained, deployed and served in the Vietnam War of which only 600 were Black”. Aaron has several pictures in the book “Tuskegee in Philadelphia rising to the challenge” about the Tuskegee Airmen in Philadelphia by Robert Kodosky.
After leaving the Military he was employed by General Motors Corporation, Chevrolet Division at their World Headquarters, and retired from the corporation after a period of satisfactory employment assignments.
Aaron serves as Tuskegee Airmen Philadelphia Chapter Treasurer, and is a member of their speaking bureau program which has carried him to various military bases, colleges, high schools, Fed-Ex world headquarters and organizations telling the Tuskegee Airmen Story.
Aaron has several pictures in the book “Tuskegee in Philadelphia rising to the challenge” about the Tuskegee Airmen in Philadelphia by Robert Kodosky.
More information and a video presentation about Aaron’s military service can be found at the following website:
Witness to War: Preserving The Oral Histories of Combat Veterans
(At website, search using “Aaron Watkins”)
