Speakers

Dan Watson has been a Rotarian since 2002 when he joined the South Pasadena California Rotary Club.
He served as its President twice, in 2006/07 and again in 2017/18. Dan also lived in Mammoth Lakes CA
from 2010 through 2014 and was a member of the Mammoth Lakes Rotary Club. Dan and his wife Kathy
moved to Southern Arizona in 2019 where he joined the SaddleBrooke Rotary Club
In addition to serving two terms as Club President, Dan has served on and chaired multiple committees
and boards including the Foundation Board, Community Services and International committees. Dan
has a passion for international service and has participated in 13 projects to build a house in a day in
Tecate, Mexico. He has coordinated 9 of those projects and is coordinating another one for District
5500 in October, 2024.
Dan retired from a 41 year career in California law enforcement in 2014. The first 28 years were with
the Los Angeles Police Department where he retired in 2002 to become the Police Chief in South
Pasadena, CA. After more than 8 years in South Pasadena he moved to Mammoth Lakes where he
served as Police Chief for another 4 ½ years. Since retiring Dan has been a part-time contract consultant
for the US Department of Justice providing police training and advice to police agencies throughout the
world including Moldova, Ukraine, Bulgaria, South Africa, Philippines, and Saudi Arabia. He also works
part-time for Arroyo Investment Group, a financial planning firm in Pasadena, CA

PROFESIONAL EXPERIENCE

City of Tucson, Tucson, Arizona (2006-14)

Energy Manager (General Services Department, Architecture &

Engineering Division). Responsible for the energy efficiency &

solar projects within a $30 million/year energy budget.

Developed the Tucson Solar Initiative, a $553,000 Solar America

Cities Program with USDOE grant funding. Completed a $18.4

million Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBS) solar project to

install 3.5 megawatts of solar photovoltaics on City facilities.

Tucson Unified School District, Tucson, Arizona (1991-2006)

Energy Conservation Manager, Acting Risk Management

Director, Natural Resources Manager, and Assets & Energy

Manager. Created the Resources Efficiency Awareness

Program (REAP) that saved over $3.5 million in utility costs, raised

over $1.5 million outside matching funds for related projects,

and paid over $350,000 capital dividends to schools & support

sites that demonstrated conservation. Completed the Tucson

Solar Schools Project, initiated a commingled recycling

program, and expanded the schools on reclaimed water.

PEACE CORPS EXPERIENCE

U. S. Peace Corps Response, Tonanzintla, Puebla, Mexico (Sept.

2017 – March 2019). Energy Market Specialist – Microgrid

Renewable Energy Project. Consulted with counterparts at the

Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Óptica y Electónica (INAOE) to

complete a microgrid research project & test facility. Also

facilitated a weekly English conversation club for masters &

doctoral students called “INAOE Talks.”