Mr. Watson's firm serves Vice President of the Maritime Security Council and as a strategic partner of the Special Intelligence Service and as its senior intelligence and security consultant.
BERRYVILLE, VA, February 06, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present the Honorable William Hughes Watson with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Mr. Watson celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Following a successful career with two international maritime security firms safeguarding ships navigating high-risk piracy areas, Mr. Watson established The William Watson Group LLC as the company's founder and managing director. Through his organization, he focuses on providing comprehensive, international consulting services as a subject matter expert in security, intelligence, government affairs, and public affairs, with a strong focus on the maritime sector. Additionally, Mr. Watson's firm serves Vice President of the Maritime Security Council and as a strategic partner of the Special Intelligence Service and as its senior intelligence and security consultant.
Mr. Watson previously held the role of vice president and company security officer at Meridian Global Consulting LLC in Washington, D.C. He also served as the president and company security officer at AdvanFort International in Herndon, Virginia. Among other similar roles, Mr. Watson held the position as deputy commissioner of maritime affairs for the Republic of the Marshall Islands' Office of Maritime Administrator and served as Maritime Security Liaison at International Registries Inc. Additionally, he assumed a secondment to the Marshall Islands diplomatic service, serving for three years as a delegate to both the United Nations (UN) in New York City and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London.
During an earlier stage of his career, Mr. Watson spent over two decades in journalism, beginning as a staff reporter for a local daily newspaper from 1980 to 1984 and working his way up to Managing Editor of three East Coast daily newspapers and then Deputy Americas Editor of London-based Lloyds Register Fairplay magazine.
Civically active, Mr. Watson is a member of the University of South Carolina Alumni Association, the John Carroll Society and the Reserve Organization of America and is recognized as a 32nd-degree Scottish Rite Freemason and a fourth-degree member of the Knight of Columbus. He is also an administrative board member of the Apostleship of the Sea, the voting equipment custodian for Clarke County, Virginia, and a Clarke County Historical Association board member. Moreover, Mr. Watson is a member and former commander of Lloyd Williams Post 41in Berryville and current Commander of District 15, Department of Virginia of the American Legion. He notably served to the rank of a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force Reserves between 1970 and 1976 and is a veteran of the South Carolina Air National Guard, from which he was honorably discharged with the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal and the Palmetto Service Award.
Mr. Watson is an alumnus of the University of South Carolina in 1976. He also has several professional credentials, including as a marine incident investigator through The Nautical Institute in 2023. Furthermore, Mr. Watson lectured on maritime affairs at the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) on Malta and on communications at American University in Washington, DC.
Mr. Watson is a member of several industry-related organizations in support of his work, including the United Nations Association of the USA, the Public Relations Society of America, the Radio - Television News Directors Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Diplomatic and Counselor Officers – Retired (DACOR), an organization dedicated to retired U.S. foreign service officers. He is also active on the board of advisors at the America's Ports Caucus Institute and on the board of the National Maritime Law Enforcement Academy. Moreover, Mr. Watson serves with the International Maritime Organization, is a maritime representative for the National Council of Information Sharing & Analysis Center in Washington, D.C., an elected president of the Associated Press, and a silver owl member of the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
In light of his accomplishments, Mr. Watson received several recognitions, including a Legionnaire of the Year from Lloyd Williams Post 41 of the American Legion in 2022, a Vivian Award from the National Press Club in 2018, an Honorable Citizen Award from the Mayor of New Orleans in 1982, and multiple Appreciation Certificates from the Council of American Master Mariners (CAMM). Additionally, he named an Honorary Colonel by Governor John Y. Brown of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
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