Episode 8 - Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, USAF (Ret): Leadership Lesson from the Cockpit, C-Suite, and Capitol Hill
Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, USAF (Ret): Leadership Lesson from the Cockpit, C-Suite, and Capitol Hill
In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, we are honored to welcome Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, USAF (Ret.)—former U.S. Air Force Thunderbird pilot, corporate executive, and the 9th President and CEO of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).
Throughout his distinguished career, Gen. Atkins has led at the highest levels in military, corporate, and nonprofit sectors. From commanding complex operations in the Air Force to leading a major media company and championing military families in Washington, D.C., his insights into leadership, resilience, and service are both timely and timeless.
In this episode, Gen. Atkins discusses:
- Turning disappointments into opportunities
- “Emulate vs. Imitate” approaches to leadership
- The value of excellence in small actions
- How overcoming failure builds resilience
- The exponential power of collective advocacy
Gen. Atkins also shares how staying focused on your goals—despite distractions—can profoundly impact not only your path, but the lives of those you serve.
Host Hannah Becker first connected with Gen. Atkins during his tenure at MOAA and has witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of his leadership and advocacy.
This episode offers meaningful takeaways for anyone looking to grow as a leader, advocate effectively, or inspire change.
Don’t miss this insightful conversation—subscribe and watch now.
About the Guest:
Lt. Gen. Atkins, USAF (Ret) is a distinguished military officer and private-sector business leader. He served as the 9th president and chief executive officer of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) - the nation’s largest, most influential association of military officers. Prior to his appointment, Atkins was the president of Chronicle Media, a large media and marketing services firm in Augusta, Georgia. When he retired from the Air Force in 2012, Atkins was serving as the commander of Alaskan Command, Alaska NORAD Region, Joint Task Force Alaska, and 11th Air Force at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. During his military career, he served as a command pilot with more than 4,000 hours in fighter aircraft, as vice commander of the 7th Air Force and U.S. Air Force Korea, as director of operations (J3) U.S. Pacific Command, and as special assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe during the air war over Serbia. He flew as a demonstration pilot for both the European A-10 demonstration team and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Atkins earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Portland and holds two master’s degrees, one in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and another in national security strategy from the National War College.
Catch the podcast episode on the following streaming channels:
YouTube - click here to listen
Spotify - click here to listen
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