Steve Watkins is a Republican who has won a seat in the US House of Representatives in Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District. This will be his first political office.
About Steve Watkins
Steve was born in 1976 in Topeka, Kansas where he now calls home once again. He recently got married to Dr. Fong Liu, a surgeon from Birmingham, AL.
Education
He received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering at The United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1999. He also received his Masters from MIT in 2010, and a Masters in Public Policy Analysis from Harvard University in 2017.
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Military Career
He spent 10 years in the US Army, from 1994-2004, counting his time at Westpoint. During his time in the Army he achieved the rank of Captain and is a qualified Airborne Ranger.
He served in Afghanistan in the Khost Province and conducted combat patrols on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
During his time in the military he was stationed at Fort Richardson in Alaska in the year 2000. While he was in Alaska, he began running dogs and competed in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race where he finished 58th place in 2015. He was also caught up in the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, while attempting to climb Mt. Everest and lost six members of his team. He talked about being diagnosed with PTSD and a TBI during his time in the Army.
Civilian Career
After his time in the military he worked as an Independent Contractor, working with the Department of Defence in Iraq, Afghanistan, and throughout Central Asia, specializing in engineering, security, and economic development.
In addition to his post-Army work as a contractor, he also has work experience as an Engineering and Business consultant at Versar Incorporated from 2004 to the present.
Political Outlook
With his upcoming job in the US House of Representatives, he plans to work on the economy and jobs, protecting life, homeland security, defending our rights, protecting seniors, spending and the national debt, standing up for our veterans, and defining results. He wants to make sure he puts the constituents first and fight for the to have better opportunities and a better quality of life for all Kansans. He also believes in fighting for a smaller government.
Veterans’ Issues
He sees his own time in the US Army as his greatest privilege and feels that serving his nation’s veterans in Washington would also be one. He believes that the Federal Government must be willing to do what is necessary to restore accountability throughout all levels of the Department of Veterans Affairs so all veterans will be able to access the health care and the resources they deserve.
Steve Watkins won against Democrat Paul Davis and Libertarian Kelly Standley in Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District.
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- VA Disability Benefits