Tom Atkin

Assistant Secretary, Homeland Defense and Global Security, Department of Defense

Tom Atkin is Founder and Managing Principal of The Atkin Group, a firm that provides strategic and operational advice to senior government and corporate executives. Drawing from his military and business leadership experiences as well as his time as a football coach and professor at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Tom mentors, coaches and conducts leadership development training for individuals, teams and organizations.

Prior to founding The Atkin Group, Tom served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security. He was responsible for Department of Defense (DoD) strategy and policy on cyber, countering weapons of mass destruction, space, homeland defense, domestic antiterrorism, global force protection, continuity of government, mission assurance, critical infrastructure, defense support to civil authorities, border security support, and technology/equipment transfers to domestic agencies. He also served as the DoD Domestic Crisis Manager, DoD Principal Cyber Advisor, and Executive Director of the Council of Governors.

Before serving in the Defense Department, Tom Atkin was a Director for Raytheon U.S. Business Development for Homeland Security. In this capacity, he was responsible for linking technological, engineering and service solutions to maritime, border, public safety and other security-related requirements in the domestic and international market.

Tom retired from the Coast Guard as a Rear Admiral (Upper Half) in June 2012 after more than 30 years of service in various operational and strategic roles. He has significant government experience, serving in roles at the White House National Security Council, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and U.S. Navy.

His senior leadership positions include: Assistant Commandant for Intelligence and Criminal Investigations; Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Transborder Security on the National Security Council; Commander of the Coast Guard Deployable Operations Group; and Chief of Staff to the DHS Principal Federal Official for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. His Pentagon assignments were Chief, Maritime Homeland Security and Defense Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense; and Chief, Counter-Terrorism Branch, Chief of Naval Operations (Deep Blue).

Tom Atkin is a graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Sciences and holds a Master of Science in Management Science from the University of Miami.