CW5 Curtis Atkins Jr

CW5 Atkins was born in Monticello Florida on 11 August 1946. CW5 Atkins earned an AS in Electrical Engineering at Western Kentucky University in 1979 and continued on for an MS in Quality Systems Management from the National Graduate school in 2001.

Mr. Atkins was appointed as a Warrant Officer in 1975 and spent the next 28 years serving in many diverse assignments. Some of these assignments include Engineer Equipment Repair Technician and Platoon Leader for the 514th Maintenance Company, Fort Knox KY; Battalion Engineer Repair Technician, 82nd Combat Engineer BN, Bamberg, Germany; Senior Engineer Repair Technician, 7th Engineer BDE, Kornwestheim, Germany; Instructor then Master Instructor Writer, Staff and Faculty, 3rd BN, Fort Belvoir VA; Personnel Management Assignments Officer, US Total Army Personnel Command, VA.

Through his research and expertise he wrote articles on topics such as the Warrant Officers Management Act, promotions criteria and future Forces Reduction as it applied to Warrant Officers. These articles were published in the Warrant Officer Division section of the Officers magazine. Chief Atkins initiative was again evident as he became Chief of the Warrant Officers Services Branch. He exemplified superior leadership in leading eight Career Managers, three civilian personnel technicians who managed over 5800 warrant officers while simultaneously remaining responsible for the management of his assigned 630 warrant officers.

In 1995, Chief Atkins was assigned to the United States Operational Evaluation Command (OEC) as an equipment evaluator who reported directly to the Chief of Staff Army. He immediately demonstrated strong interpersonal competence for developing, coordinating, and implementing test and evaluation strategies for all equipment acquisition categories, he was able to minimize test and cost requirements for fifteen systems.

Chief Atkins last active duty assignment was with The Army Corps of Engineer’s as the Senior CW5 Ordnance Warrant Officer. This assignment presented the greatness challenge of his career because equipment programs and senior leadership were managed and funded under the control of Civil Works or Military Programs. In addition, the Corps of Engineers received authority from Army to write and implement policy and procedures specific to and consistent with operating under civil funds.

CW5 Atkins retired on the March 31st, 2003 with over 36 years of service.