COMMISSIONER ROBERT A. WATSON was appointed as The Salvation Army's National Leader for the United States on November 1, 1995. As National Commander, Commissioner Watson coordinated the functions of The Salvation Army in the United States from National Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. Together, Commissioner Robert A. and his wife, Alice Watson, have served as active officers in The Salvation Army for more than 40 years. They have traveled to more than 45 countries during their Army service, including periodic special assignments by the International Leader of the Army. One of those assignments was a visit to Cuba to review the Army's work there and to plan for the future.

As National Commander, Commissioner Watson was the chief spokesman for the Army and the General in the United States. He served as the Army's official representative in federal government relations, maintaining regular contacts with the executive and legislative branches. Having been invited to serve as Guest Chaplain for the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, he was called upon to open sessions in both houses of Congress in prayer. He was also responsible for the relationship of The Salvation Army as a non-governmental organization to the United Nations and met with the Secretary General and other U.N. leaders to discuss the global work of The Salvation Army.

As the National Commander, the Commissioner served as chairman of the National Corporation Board of Trustees and all other legal Army corporations in the country. He also served as chairman of the Commissioners' Conference, the national policy-making body of the Army. A leader in non-profit and religious arenas, Commissioner Robert Watson served on national and international boards, including Leadership 18, the Christian Children's Fund, Inc., Christian Management Association, Religion in American Life, National Interfaith Cable Coalition/ODYSSEY, American Bible Society, National Association of Evangelicals, National Prayer Committee, Mission 2000, Religious Alliance Against Pornography and a Task Force on Religious Persecution. He also served on the Welfare to Work Task Force, chaired by Vice President Al Gore. He met in the Oval Office with President William Clinton to discuss The Salvation Army's response to Welfare Reform.

Special recognition awards were presented to Watson during his years as National Commander by the Odyssey Network and National Interfaith Cable Coalition, The Salvation Army National Social Services Conference ("Excellence in Leadership"), Leadership 18, the American Correctional Association and the Christian Children's Fund ("Friend of Children"). Additionally, both the Watsons were commissioned as "Honorary Texans" in 1998 by then Governor George W. Bush. Since retirement, Commissioner Watson received the "2002 Christian Management Award" from the Christian Management Association and the "Master Manager" Award by Spring Arbor University School of Business in Michigan.

Since retirement, Commissioner Watson has authored a book (with writer, Ben Brown) entitled, "The Most Effective Organization in the U.S.": Leadership Secrets of The Salvation Army. Published in November, 2001 by Crown Business Books (Random House), Dr. Peter Drucker's quote in the title is used as the basis for setting forth life principles and values which can change people and the way they do business. The book has been sold out in the United States, has been published in Brazil, China and Korea, and has been used extensively as a text in colleges and universities, businesses and non-profit organizations. The Watsons continue to fill speaking engagements around the country, both within The Salvation Army and for other organizations and are currently serving as consultants for The Salvation Army. Currently, Commissioner Watson is serving as a Consultant for The Salvation Army in Philadelphia and Camden, NJ and is Chairman of the Divisional Kroc Project Planning Team.

The greatest joy of Commissioners Watson is to help further the mission of The Salvation Army: "... to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination."