Roland Watkins joined the National Mediation Board in February, 1980. During his career at the Board, he has been a Senior Hearing Officer and Legal Counsel. He has also served as counsel/special assistant to numerous Presidential Emergency Boards and Congressional Advisory Boards.

Currently, Mr. Watkins serves as the Director of the Arbitration Department, where he is responsible for all aspects of Grievance and Interest Arbitration in the airline and railroad industries. These responsibilities include administering railroad Public Law Boards, Special Boards of Adjustment and Arbitration Boards. He serves as the Administrator for the National Railroad Adjustment Board which is located in Chicago, Illinois.

Mr. Watkins received his B.A. degree in Economics from Lafayette College located in Easton, Pennsylvania, and his Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School in Ithaca, New York. He is a member of the Railroad and Airline Labor Committee and the Dispute Resolution Committee of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the American Bar Association.