Anthony Watson

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR FACILITIES OPERATIONS

A New River Valley native, Watson has dedicated 35 years of service to Virginia Tech. Joining the Division of Facilities in 1989 as an apprentice carpenter, he was promoted to carpenter in 1993. Watson has held numerous key roles including superintendent of the carpentry shop, superintendent of building trades, director of buildings and grounds, director of facilities operations and deputy to the assistant vice president, and interim assistant vice president for facilities operations. 

Over the past three and a half decades, Watson’s influence and common sense approach have extended to all areas of the university. When solutions are needed, he is a "go to" around the entire campus.

When bad weather arrives, Watson oversees campus preparations and cleanup response. His teams plow roads, loading docks, and service drives in 12-hour shifts. Sidewalks, stairs, parking lots, and streets are also treated with a salt brine solution obtained from the tanks at the on-campus power plant. Over a dozen utility task vehicles, tractors, and skid steers are deployed to help clear main sidewalks. All this to keep the campus safe and operational. 

When President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush visited Virginia Tech on April 17, 2007 - one day after 32 students and faculty members were tragically taken from their loved ones and our community - it was Watson who was entrusted to work closely with the Secret Service to plan and accommodate the visit. In 2012, he worked with the Secret Service again, coordinating First Lady Michelle Obama's visit to campus to address graduates at the Spring University Commencement ceremony. 

In 2020, Watson was awarded the President’s Award for Excellence for his utility, proactivity, and adaptability in leading critical campus operations.  His deeply contextual and proactive leadership proved invaluable as the campus scaled operations to address the global pandemic.