Robert M. Atkins is the Chief Executive Officer for the Space Innovation Academy (SIA). As CEO he is committed to building a solid foundation for space professionals and space focused education for today's youth. He works to strengthen the SIA's role within the space industry by focusing awareness for the nonprofit organization through seminars, workshops, symposiums, and other learning opportunities to serve the space sector. Robert brings a diverse range of approaches and views by drawing on his 20-year career in Air Force Space Command.
Robert holds a bachelor's degree in management from the University of Oklahoma, and two Masters degrees: Management Information Systems, University of Maryland, and Space Systems Operations, Naval Postgraduate School. Throughout his Air Force career, he earned many leadership, space, and acquisition related educational certificates and levels, to include Senior Developmental Education, Space 300, Space Warfighter Course, Program Management Level III, and AETC Master Instructor.
Space Professional - Space Educator
Watch Lt Col Robert Atkins's Keynote address at the USC AMP SoCal Conference about being innovative in the global competitive market
~Lt Col Atkins is introduced 30Min in
Research, Development, and Industry Outreach
Kristin Atkins is the Executive Director for the Space Innovation Academy. She specializes in research and program planning for STEM education to create curriculum that reaches all children. In 2017, Kristin developed the first draft of ideas for the birth of SIA camps. The goal was to not only compete with, but surpass, for-profit programs in the Los Angeles area that were often financially unattainable to military youth. Realizing that most military families could not afford the programs that were established in the local Los Angeles community, she got to work and crafted a camp to inspire, teach, and provide opportunities to learn about STEM, with a tilt toward space education. SIA is special due to Industry professionals (i.e., active-duty military, space professionals, 3d printer founders, and robotics leaders) dedicating their time to teach segments within the camps. Kristin’s husband, Robert, was first in line to bring industry professionals, along with providing his own expertise in helping launch SIA into what it is today. Our sponsors continue to make SIA possible, and we cannot thank them enough.
Kristin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She has a background in teaching adults and youth in STEM, health coaching, fitness, and nutrition education.