Matthew Atkins

Guest Author

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Atkins, representing the U.S. Air Force, is a national security affairs fellow for the academic year 2013-14 at the Hoover Institution. Atkins earned his undergraduate degree in economics and Russian from the University of Virginia; he holds a master’s degree in information resource management from Central Michigan University and a master’s in national security studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. As an intelligence officer, he has spent the majority of his career in special operations and intelligence collection; he also commanded an airborne intelligence squadron. He has completed ten combat tours since 9/11, including six tours in Afghanistan, most recently as the director of intelligence for all special operations units in that country. His experience includes time on the Joint Staff, serving overseas with joint units, flying on special operations aircraft, and working for several national intelligence agencies.