PACAF Airman wins DOD-level Analyst award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mikaley Kline
  • Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

Maj. Andrew Atkinson, Pacific Air Forces Analyses, Assessments, and Lessons Learned branch chief, was announced as the 2019 Military Operations Research Society’s Wayne P. Hughes Junior Analyst of the Year at the Department of Defense level.

The Wayne P. Hughes Jr., award recognizes analysts who are making an impact on operations research.

“I was very happy to hear I was selected at that level,” Atkinson said. “I was honored to win this award and feel very appreciative to everyone who has mentored me over the years.”

To be considered for the DOD-level award, an individual has to be nominated by a senior mentor in the operations research (OR) field.

John Trifonovitch, PACAF Analyses, Assessments, and Lessons Learned director was the senior mentor who nominated Atkinson for the award.

Trifonovitch nominated Atkinson to recognize him for the outstanding contributions he has made and is making to the operations research field and the impact he is having on the Air Force and the DoD.

“His remarkable ability to transform theoretical, academic innovation into real-world warfighting impact at the highest level exemplifies the rarest quality of an analyst,” Trifonovitch said. “In addition, the nomination is a means to highlight to the OR community and the DoD, as well as the new methodologies and capabilities that now exist because of Andrew’s accomplishments.  He has distinguished himself as a true scholar and warrior.”

“This junior analyst award considers what you’ve accomplished thus far in your career, understanding that it is still fairly early on in your career,” Atkinson said. “So, job performance here at PACAF as well as previous assignments, along with research accomplishments and publications are also taken into account.”

Atkinson’s nomination was largely based on the work he’s done so far in the field of modeling and simulation.

 “The [Operations Research Analyst] career field brings in those with a math major or operations research,” Atkinson said. “It’s kind of a career field for people that can use data, applied math, statistics to help solve some military problems.”

Following graduation from high school, Atkinson received an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship and attended the University of Virginia.

“I wanted to join because my family has a little background in the military. My grandfather served 20 years enlisted in the Army and my father is a DoD civilian for the Army,” Atkinson said. “With him having that job we moved around overseas; Japan, Germany, so I had always been somewhat familiar with the military life.”

Atkinson added he really enjoyed his time at the University of Virginia. It was during his time there he met his wife, Kelly, who is also active duty Air Force.

Trifonovitch added that working with Atkinson is a true pleasure.

“His ’can do’ attitude is refreshing and motivating,” he said. “His friendly and calm demeanor make it very easy to seek his advice and opinion. Andrew is respected by his peers and leadership.”

The award is named after a former member of the Military Operations Research Society board of directors and 20th MORS president.

Atkinson will go on to receive his award at the annual symposium at the United States Air force Academy in mid-June.

Maj. Andrew Atkinson, Pacific Air Forces Analyses, Assessments, and Lessons Learned branch chief, was announced as the 2019 Military Operations Research Society’s Wayne P. Hughes Junior Analyst of the Year at the Department of Defense level.

The Wayne P. Hughes Jr., award recognizes analysts who are making an impact on operations research.

“I was very happy to hear I was selected at that level,” Atkinson said. “I was honored to win this award and feel very appreciative to everyone who has mentored me over the years.”

To be considered for the DOD-level award, an individual has to be nominated by a senior mentor in the operations research (OR) field.

John Trifonovitch, PACAF Analyses, Assessments, and Lessons Learned director was the senior mentor who nominated Atkinson for the award.

Trifonovitch nominated Atkinson to recognize him for the outstanding contributions he has made and is making to the operations research field and the impact he is having on the Air Force and the DoD.

“His remarkable ability to transform theoretical, academic innovation into real-world warfighting impact at the highest level exemplifies the rarest quality of an analyst,” Trifonovitch said. “In addition, the nomination is a means to highlight to the OR community and the DoD, as well as the new methodologies and capabilities that now exist because of Andrew’s accomplishments.  He has distinguished himself as a true scholar and warrior.”

“This junior analyst award considers what you’ve accomplished thus far in your career, understanding that it is still fairly early on in your career,” Atkinson said. “So, job performance here at PACAF as well as previous assignments, along with research accomplishments and publications are also taken into account.”

Atkinson’s nomination was largely based on the work he’s done so far in the field of modeling and simulation.

 “The [Operations Research Analyst] career field brings in those with a math major or operations research,” Atkinson said. “It’s kind of a career field for people that can use data, applied math, statistics to help solve some military problems.”

Following graduation from high school, Atkinson received an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship and attended the University of Virginia.

“I wanted to join because my family has a little background in the military. My grandfather served 20 years enlisted in the Army and my father is a DoD civilian for the Army,” Atkinson said. “With him having that job we moved around overseas; Japan, Germany, so I had always been somewhat familiar with the military life.”

Atkinson added he really enjoyed his time at the University of Virginia. It was during his time there he met his wife, Kelly, who is also active duty Air Force.

Trifonovitch added that working with Atkinson is a true pleasure.

“His ’can do’ attitude is refreshing and motivating,” he said. “His friendly and calm demeanor make it very easy to seek his advice and opinion. Andrew is respected by his peers and leadership.”

The award is named after a former member of the Military Operations Research Society board of directors and 20th MORS president.

Atkinson will go on to receive his award at the annual symposium at the United States Air force Academy in mid-June.