Kevin V. Watson is a digital forensics, incident response, and AI assurance practitioner whose work is guided by a central question: What can the evidence reliably support?
In his current public-sector role, he advises executive, legal, human resources, security, and risk leaders on matters involving digital evidence, cybersecurity incidents, internal investigations, and complex questions of fact. His work extends beyond acquiring and examining digital artifacts to the more difficult problem of interpretation: determining where data is reliable, where assumptions fail, and whether a conclusion can withstand technical, legal, and organizational scrutiny.
AI assurance and technical practice
Watson’s work increasingly focuses on AI governance, assurance, and AI-assisted investigation. He approaches AI governance as a practical assurance discipline in which systems are tested, limitations are documented, accountability remains human, and claims about performance are subjected to evidence.
That perspective is informed by direct technical practice. He has built and deployed local AI inference environments, retrieval-augmented generation systems, machine-learning models, and analytical tools that examine how AI can support investigations and evidence analysis without displacing professional judgment.
From technology leadership to investigations
Before entering digital forensics and incident response, Watson spent more than a decade in information technology and technology leadership. He served as Director of Information Technology at Grove Broadcasting, home of IRIE FM in Jamaica.
He later joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. As head of the Anti-Lottery Scam Unit in western Jamaica, he directed investigations into organized criminal networks, coordinated operational activity, developed intelligence capabilities, and worked with Jamaican and international law-enforcement and prosecutorial partners.
His work included collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Attorney’s Office on a major transnational lottery-scam prosecution involving more than 30 defendants, including more than 10 extradited from Jamaica. The case and Watson’s expert-witness role are documented in the public record.
He also developed a specialized investigative-intelligence platform and spearheaded a school- and community-focused lottery-scam prevention campaign. Senior MOCA leadership formally commended his professionalism and dedication in combating organized fraud.
Canada and current work
After migrating to Canada in 2018, Watson continued in fraud investigation and financial-crime prevention. At Scotiabank, he was recognized as his fraud-management team’s Most Valuable Player and later received the bank’s Best of the Best award. He subsequently moved into public-sector digital forensics and incident response. His experience across Jamaica and Canada informs an approach grounded in law enforcement, technology leadership, financial crime, public accountability, and international cooperation.
Education and credentials
Watson holds an Executive Master of Business Administration and an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems from the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, along with a postgraduate diploma in cybersecurity from Rochester Institute of Technology. He is completing a Master of Interdisciplinary Artificial Intelligence at the University of Ottawa.
His professional certifications include the GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner, Magnet Certified Forensics Examiner, and EnCase Certified Examiner credentials.
Public scholarship
Alongside his professional work, Watson produces Watson’s World, a public-education platform examining Jamaican and Caribbean history, crime, justice, politics, identity, and the forces that have shaped the region.
Establish what is known. Distinguish observation from inference. Examine competing explanations. Communicate the story accurately.