Dan Watson appointed to commission of veterans affairs

Dan Watson has been appointed by Delaware Gov. John Carney to serve a four-year term on the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs.

Watson will represent Delawareans who served during the Vietnam War between Nov. 1, 1955 and April 30, 1975.

Born and raised in Milford, Watson graduated from Milford High School and Sussex Technical Center in 1965. He attended Lincoln Electric School of Welding Technology, becoming one of the youngest certified welders in the nation. In 1966, he enlisted in the Delaware Army National Guard, where he served for two years.

During his 24 years as a civilian welder at Dover AFB, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and served 19 years in the metals technology shop, retiring as a master sergeant. While employed at Dover AFB, he was honored for developing welding procedures for C-5 engines that saved shipping them to Texas for repairs.

Watson also served as an adjunct welding instructor at Delaware Tech, and taught classes at the DuPont Company in Seaford and Metal Masters in Clayton under the college's newly formed industrial training division. He is also the owner of Dan Watson Welding LLC.

“As a life member of Kent County Chapter 850, Vietnam Veterans of America, Dan has been involved in many projects, including our service dog program. He also worked on the construction of the stand for the UH-1 helicopter at our Kent County Veterans Memorial Park,” said Paul Davis, VVA state council president. “We are proud to have him as our commissioner.”

Watson and his wife Kathleen, a retired high school math teacher, have been married for 29 years.