Dorothy Ann Watkins, a 1984 Jim Thorpe High School graduate, was recently promoted to colonel in the Army Reserve.

Col. Watkins serves as the branch chief for the 1st Brigade, 87th Training Division of the Army Reserve.

The Watkins family military service spans World War I, World War II and Korea. That lineage of service continued with her father, herself and her son.

Watkins’ father, Staff Sgt. (Ret.) Ruben Zellner, of Lehighton, and son, Staff Sgt. Joshua Watkins, of Jonestown, helped promote Watkins to colonel in a formal military ceremony on July 9. They were joined by daughter-in-law, Maggie Watkins, and three grandchildren, Brock, Macie and Bradley.

“I am truly honored and humbled to serve my country in this position,” said Watkins. “I owe this honor to my father and son who have inspired me my entire military career.”

Watkins is a native of Jim Thorpe and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June 1984. She earned the rank of Petty Officer Third Class and then transferred to the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 2000. She immediately enrolled in Officer Candidate School and received her commission in August 2002.

She has served in a variety of leadership positions throughout her military career. Some of her more prominent positions included the 28th Infantry Division, G1 (personnel) and the division Inspector General.

Watkins had a total of five deployments and served early in Afghanistan in 2003, then in Kuwait in 2008. Her later deployments included service with the 28th Infantry Division, 56 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Taji, Iraq 2009; 28th Infantry Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team Kosovo 2015-2016; 28th Infantry Division HQs, Operation Spartan Shield, Kuwait 2018

Watkins holds an associate degree in criminology from Lehigh Community College in 1998 and a bachelor’s degree from Albright College in Reading in 2000. In 2013, she earned a master’s degree from Liberty University in management and leadership. Watkins is also a 2022 graduate of the U.S. Army War College.

Staff Sgt. Joshua Watkins served with his mother in the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Taji, Iraq in 2009. Watkins volunteered for the deployment so she could be with her son, who joined the Army after his junior year of high school.