Steve Watkins graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and completed various military schools, including Ranger, Airborne, Sapper, Air Assault, and Pathfinder. He served in combat in Khost Province and on the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, attaining the rank of captain. Watkins transitioned to the public sector after a decade in high-finance, where he managed institutional risk. He has competed in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and has experience with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder, which informs his advocacy for improved support systems for veterans.

Steve Watkins combines a deeply personal commitment to military and veterans' welfare with a strategic focus on regional industrial interests. His military background and personal experiences with traumatic brain injuries and PTSD lend an authentic urgency to his advocacy for improved support systems and mental health resources for veterans. Watkins's legislative record suggests a calculated approach to balancing national security with economic considerations, particularly in how he supports defense contractors while ensuring fair compensation for transitioning military personnel. This blend of personal experience and strategic policy-making invites further exploration into how he reconciles these seemingly disparate elements.