CONTACT

CAPTAIN MAX J. ATKINSON
Capt Max Atkinson is an Instructor Pilot at The 507th Air Refueling Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. He serves as the Assistant Chief of Nuclear Operations and Readiness overseeing real-world, no-fail nuclear alert operations and training, as well as orchestrating all nuclear exercises, evaluations, and inspections to ensure continuous mission readiness. He is the chair of Pilot Hiring, a unit Physical Training Leader, and the group’s Inspector General Evaluation Management lead.

Capt Atkinson commissioned in 2019 as a distinguished graduate Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. He earned his pilot wings as a distinguished gradate from Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma in May 2021, and KC-135 Pilot Initial Qual in April 2022. He has served 6 years in the Air Force Reserves and held various positions with the 507th Operations Group. Capt Atkinson also completed a PhD in aeronautics and Astronauts in 2024.

Capt Atkinson is an instructor pilot with over 1700 hour in various aircraft. He deployed three times, flying 94 combat sorties, earning four Air Medals under operations Inherent Resolve, Spartan Shield and Shield Wall. He was also recognized for extraordinary achievement with a single sortie Air Medal for leading a formation of KC-135s during operation Midnight
Hammer.

EDUCATION
2016 Bachelors Degree, Pre-Medical, University of Texas
2018 Masters Degree, Health Policy, Texas A&M University
2019 Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2021 Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Oklahoma
2022 Pilot Initial Qualification, KC-135, Altus AFB Oklahoma
2024 Aircraft Commander Qualification, KC-135, Altus AFB Oklahoma
2024 Doctoral Degree, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Oklahoma State University
2025 Instructor Pilot Qualification, KC-135, Altus AFB Oklahoma

ASSIGNMENTS

1.October 2019 – September 2021, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma 2.October 2021–Current, KC-135 Instructor Pilot, 465th Air Refueling Squadron, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma (Assistant Director of Operations deployed KC-135s, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Instructor Pilot
Flight hours: 1700
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-1, KC-135R/TMAJOR

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Airman’s Medal

Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters

Air and Space Commendation Medal

Air and Space Achievement Medal
 

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

2019 Distinguished Graduate, Officer Training School

2021 Distinguished Graduate, Undergraduate Pilot Training

2022 Distinguished Graduate, Pilot Initial Qual KC-135

 

PUBLICATIONS “What is it like to be a female pilot in the United States Air Force: A gender diversity study” Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education and Research. December, 2025.

 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant Sept 27, 2019

First Lieutenant Sept 27, 2021

Captain Sept 27, 2023

(Current as of Jan 2026)