Lt. Col. Kathleen A. Atanasoff is the Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs of the Defense Information School at Fort George G. Meade, Md. She leads a team of more than 300 military, civilian and contractor professionals responsible for the world-class training of approximately 2,600 public affairs, visual information and broadcast maintenance professionals a year. In this role, she upholds the institution’s military and academic culture, developing faculty members to maintain academic excellence. She leads the implementation and execution of academic programs and policies, ensuring curricula meets high standards and are aligned with the needs of the Department of War Public Affairs and Visual Information career fields. As a member of the command team, she also contributes to strategic planning to meet the evolving training and developmental needs of the Department’s communication warfighters.
Lt. Col. Atanasoff earned her commission in 2008 from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Michigan State University. As a career Public Affairs Officer, she planned and executed public affairs operations in support of deployed and home station missions in a variety of assignments from the wing level to a combatant command. Career highlights include serving as the commander of Cadet Squadron Twenty-Seven, “Fabulous Thunderbirds,” at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., her time at The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, Georgia as part of Air Force Education With Industry, and teaching officers, senior non-commissioned officers and civilians from all branches of service as an instructor at the Defense Information School. Prior to her current assignment, Lt. Col. Atanasoff was the Deputy Division Chief for the Requirements and Development Division, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, where she oversaw career field training and development, and established policies and programs that enabled expeditionary readiness of public affairs forces.
EDUCATION
2008 Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich.
2008 Public Affairs Qualification Course (Distinguished Graduate), Defense Information School, Fort Meade, Md.
2009 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala.
2012 Masters of Arts in Public Relations, Webster University, Distance Education, St. Louis, Mo.
2012 Squadron Officer School (Distinguished Graduate), Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Ala.
2016 Education With Industry, The Coca-Cola Company, Air Force Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga.
2020 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala., by correspondence
2021 Master of Arts Counseling and Leadership, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2025 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2008 - October 2008, Student, Public Affairs Qualification Course, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, Maryland
2. October 2008 - October 2010, Deputy Chief, 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
3. October 2010 - August 2012, Chief, 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs, Altus AFB, Okla. (September 2011 – April 2012, Deputy Chief, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa Public Affairs, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa)
4. August 2012 - April 2014, Instructor, Public Affairs Leadership Department, Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
5. April 2014 - August 2015, Commander, Detachment 2, 336th Training Squadron, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
6. August 2015 - July 2016, Student, Education With Industry, The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, Ga.
7. July 2016 - June 2018, Communications Planner & Media Operations Officer, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. (January - July 2017, Chief of Media Operations, Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs, Combined Air Operations Center, Al Udeid, Qatar)
8. June 2018 - May 2020, Public Affairs Planner & Chief of Digital & Media Operations, U.S. Strategic Command Public Affairs, Offutt AFB, Neb.
9. May 2020 – May 2021, Student, Military Leader Development Program, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colo.
10. May 2021 – June 2023, Commander, Cadet Squadron 27, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
11. June 2023 – July 2026, Deputy, Requirements and Development Division, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. July 2026 – Present, Dean of Faculty & Academic Affairs, Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 3, 2008
First Lieutenant June 15, 2010
Captain June 15, 2012
Major April 1, 2018
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2023
(Current as of September 2026)