Harry Atkinson (RAF officer)

Air Commodore Richard J. Atkinson, CBE (born c. 1960), known as Harry Atkinson, is a senior Royal Air Force (RAF) officer and the current Corporate Development Officer for the RAF. In this role he is leading the transformation programme – 'Thinking to Win' – to re-ignite the RAF's innovation culture. Previously, he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies for a year-long intervention regarding international relations and strategy. Prior to this he served as Head of the RAF Media and Communications team at Headquarters Air Command, aligning leadership, strategy and communication. He introduced all-new strategic narratives as part of a contemporary communications philosophy to the RAF. Previously he was Air Officer Scotland and Station Commander RAF Leuchars from March 2009 to September 2011, leading the transformation of RAF Leuchars from being a Tornado base into a Typhoon base.^[2]

Atkinson has served as Deputy Director – Air Control Element, Headquarters International Security Assistance Force, Kabul during 2008–09 where he designed and introduced an Afghanistan-wide prioritisation system to minimise the time taken to provide critical, life-saving air support. Previously he held the appointment of Assistant Director of Strategic Planning at the Ministry of Defence where he developed and introduced a global analysis of threats and opportunities. As a wing commander, he commanded No. 25 (Fighter) Squadron at RAF Leeming, leading tactical delivery of Quick Reaction Alert at home, in the Falklands and in the Balkans during the early days of NATO expansion.

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