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Watkins Technical Services, Inc.

Meridianville, AL

Specialized engineering for custom process equipment, multispectral survivability, and systems compliance.

Services
22
Offices
1
Projects
8
Leaders
2
Founded
2010

Overview

Watkins Technical Services, Inc. (WTS) is a specialized engineering practice based in Meridianville, Alabama, focusing on custom process equipment, facility and vehicle survivability, systems compliance, and infrared characterization. Founded by chemical and systems engineers with deep backgrounds at Teledyne Brown Engineering and the US Air Force, WTS transforms concepts from initial design through prototyping, fabrication, and production. Key capabilities include automated chemical transfer and supply systems, camouflage, concealment, and deception (CCD) systems, multispectral signature management, ballistic protection, RPG pre-detonation materials, and thermal infrared modeling. WTS serves defense, government, aviation, nuclear, and chemical process clients.

Founded
2010

Services

Custom Process Equipment

Provides engineering design and development of specialized industrial and chemical process hardware, including chemical distribution, solvent degreasing, and high-pressure piping systems.

Facility & Vehicle Survivability / Multispectral CCD

Develops advanced signature management, protective barriers, and camouflage, concealment, and deception (CCD) technologies for tactical environments.

System Engineering / Process Compliance

Applies rigorous systems engineering methodologies to define requirements, assess design and fabrication compliance, and manage operational risks.

Infrared Characterization

Specializes in thermal modeling, signature reduction materials, and specialized spectroscopic testing methodologies.

Industries

Firm type

Project types

Projects

Chemical Transfer / Supply System for Hydrofluoric & Nitric Acid

Tullahoma, TN | Goodrich Landing Gear (United Technologies Landing Gear) | Aviation

Designed and fabricated a specialized chemical storage, transfer, and automated dispensing system to accurately dispense 68% Nitric Acid and 48% Hydrofluoric Acid in support of process dip tanks. The system utilized PTFE-lined piping for hydrofluoric acid and 304L stainless steel for nitric acid to ensure chemical compatibility and operator safety.

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RPG Pre-Detonation Screen Development

US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center (USACE, ERDC) | Defense

Developed lightweight rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) pre-detonation screening materials in partnership with the US Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center. The design ensures RPGs are detonated at a safe distance from protective structures to neutralize the shaped charge effect.

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Kizner Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility Compliance Assessment

Russia | Teledyne Brown Engineering / Canadian Government | Government

Served as technical advisor evaluating design and fabrication compliance of US and Russian-designed nerve agent destruction processing equipment. The work involved conducting detailed quality inspections at vendor sites and facilities across the Russian Federation.

Aircraft Transparencies Separation Tank

Huntsville, AL | PPG | Aviation

Engineered and built a variable-temperature liquid immersion tank used to separate laminated layers of aircraft transparencies, enabling the reclamation of valuable materials.

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Capillary Tubing Pressure Comparator Device

Huntsville, AL | National Copper | Manufacturing

Designed and fabricated a custom pressure comparator device used for testing and maintaining quality control of capillary tubing.

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White Phosphorus Modernization Program Support

Pine Bluff Arsenal | Defense

Designed, fabricated, and integrated custom part cleaners, paint booths, and robotic handling devices for a new manufacturing line dedicated to filling munitions as part of the army modernization program.

Chemical Weapons Drum Destruction Equipment

Pine Bluff Arsenal | Defense

Led the design, fabrication, and testing of fully automated processing equipment designed to safely destroy nerve agent precursors contained in chemical drums while minimizing operator exposure.

Leadership

Larry Watkins

Founder & Principal Engineer

M.S. Chemical Engineering, B.S. Chemical Engineering

Larry Watkins has an extensive background in systems engineering, process design, and fabrication. He founded WTS in 2010 following 25 years at Teledyne Brown Engineering and active-duty service as a US Air Force Captain at Kirtland AFB. His experience spans chemical process equipment design for aerospace and nuclear clients, facility and vehicle survivability technology development for the US Army Corps of Engineers, and SOCOM-related hardware development. He holds an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Mexico (1985) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Vanderbilt University (1981).

Roland Fuentes

Principal Engineer

Roland Fuentes was named Engineering Fellow at Teledyne Brown Engineering in 2013 after 24 years as a colleague of Larry Watkins. At WTS, he develops innovative solutions to technical challenges including camouflage techniques, Line-of-Sight Denial screens, RPG piezoelectric fuse measurement systems, radar barrier screens, and LCMR decoys. He also provides PLC support for chemical process controls.

Publications

Engineered Textiles for Detonation of Rocket Propelled Grenades

technical_paper | Larry Watkins | 2008

Screening for an Expedient Visual Barrier

technical_paper | Larry Watkins | 2007

Signature Performance of Coatings for Ballistic Panels

technical_paper | Larry Watkins | 2007

High Fidelity Visual and Infrared Signature Tank Targets

technical_paper | Larry Watkins | 2002

Effectiveness of Obscurants against Laser-Guided Munitions

technical_paper | Larry Watkins | 1998

Providing Vehicle Signature and Sensor Performance Information for the CASTFOREM Simulation

technical_paper | Larry Watkins | 1995

Development of Infrared Signature Reduction Materials for Thermal Camouflage Systems

technical_paper | Larry Watkins | 1993

Infrared Signature Generation for Ground Vehicle Decoys

technical_paper | Larry Watkins | 1989

Offices

Headquarters

Headquarters

120 Commissioner Drive

Meridianville, AL 35759

USA

256-527-6408

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