Will Atkins

Will Atkins is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, scholar, and small-business owner whose work spans national defense policy, cross-cultural leadership, and practical guides for entrepreneurs. Over a 20-year military career he flew combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, served as a political advisor to Afghanistan's National Security Council and President, and taught political science at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he later became Deputy Department Head.

He is co-editor of American Defense Policy (9th Edition, Johns Hopkins University Press), the standard university text on U.S. defense strategy, and a contributing author to Culture Shock: Leadership Lessons from the U.S. Military's Diplomatic Corps. His research on strategic thinking and civil-military relations has appeared in Armed Forces & Society, the Journal of Peace and War Studies, and Air and Space Power Journal, among others. He now has a forthcoming book coming with Johns Hopkins University Press about the Oath of Service.

Beyond the classroom and the cockpit, Will is the founder of a small consumer products company and writes practical, no-nonsense guides, including Writing Your Business Plan and Basics of ChatGPT, for readers navigating new tools and new ventures. He holds graduate degrees in political science, strategic intelligence, and international affairs, and has been a non-resident fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He lives in Tampa, Florida.