Adam Watkins serves as Vice President of the Economic Competitiveness Division at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, where he leads strategic initiatives to strengthen Virginia’s long‑term economic foundations and collaborates closely with state, regional, and local partners to drive growth. Since joining VEDP in 2019, he has advanced through several leadership roles, most recently as Assistant Vice President and Interim Team Lead, guiding priority-setting, policy development, and cross-agency coordination to enhance the Commonwealth’s competitiveness. His background includes policy and operational roles in the City of Detroit Mayor’s Office and Aspire Health, along with fellowship experiences focused on education, housing, and workforce challenges, bringing a strong analytical and mission-driven perspective to statewide economic strategy.