AINA WATKINS

Aina N. Watkins is a General Attorney (Labor) with the U.S. Department of Energy, where she serves as a compliance expert on labor and employment matters impacting federal contractors and the contractor workforce. 

Ms. Watkins has over 15 years of experience in labor and employment law, government contracting, and regulatory compliance in both the federal and private sectors. She advises senior leadership on labor standards, collective bargaining, pension obligations, and Davis-Bacon Act compliance across large-scale federal construction projects.

A committed leader in the legal community, Ms. Watkins, serves as a Board Member of the GWAC Foundation and former Recording Secretary of the GWAC Bar Association. She is also a member of the American Bar Association and the National Bar Association. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Grand Valley State University, a Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law, and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Government Procurement Law from The George Washington University Law School.

Ms. Watkins is the author of two published legal articles, including work featured in The Procurement Lawyer and the Digest of EEO Law. She is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and Michigan.

A Detroit native, Ms. Watkins lives in Prince George’s County, Maryland. She enjoys traveling abroad and spending time with her twin sister, Ariane Bigby, and their family.