Steve Watkins

Chief Content Officer

Steven Watkins is an award-winning journalist, columnist, content marketing professional, editor and authority on federal management, technology and media. He launched Watkins Communications in 2015, providing a variety of tailored communications and consulting services to clients in the federal marketplace and offering expertise in all varieties of content platforms, including live events, webcasts, white papers, video, social media, bylined articles, blogs, and issue briefs. In 2016, Watkins became Chief Content Officer for Government Marketing University, a new community-based, collaborative platform providing training, events, career development and community building for professionals serving the public sector marketplace. Prior to launching Watkins Communications, he served 15 years as the editor of Federal Times, a leading media brand serving the federal management community, Congress and contractors. Under Watkins’ leadership, Federal Times won more than three dozen national and regional peer-reviewed awards for journalism excellence in the categories of investigative reporting, news analysis and government coverage. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at events focused on federal management and technology. As editor, Watkins transformed the Federal Times editorial brand from a legacy subscription-based publication into a modern business-to-business model focused on the federal management community. Watkins repositioned Federal Times to become a robust digital brand with an emphasis on federal modernization and a platform for thought leadership on federal management issues. During Watkins’ tenure, Federal Times consistently ranked No. 1 or No. 2 nationally as the “Top Federal Publication Read” by Market Connections Inc., which began conducting federal market research studies in 2011. Prior to joining Federal Times, Watkins was a foreign business correspondent in Southeast Asia, contributing to a wide variety of U.S. business publications. He also reported for various Washington-based publications covering national security, military operations and programs, and international trade. Watkins also reported for Scripps Howard News Service and is a graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.