(Washington, DC) Incoming U.S. House Science Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) announced today that he has named Chuck Atkins to be the Committee’s Chief of Staff in the 110th Congress.
“Chuck has a long and distinguished career history, both on the Hill and off. We are fortunate that he will continue to be an asset to this Committee,” said Rep. Gordon.
Atkins has served concurrently as Gordon’s personal office Chief of Staff and the Committee’s Democratic Staff Director for the past two years.
“I look forward to undertaking a full time leadership role on the Science Committee in the new Congress,” added Atkins. “We’ve got a big job ahead. Incoming Chairman Gordon is committed to the Committee’s continued work to assure America’s global competitiveness, advance sound science policy and oversee our nation’s preeminent federal research programs. I’m honored to be a part of that.”
In the roles of staff director, administrator and policy adviser to Gordon on the Science Committee, Atkins has been responsible for managing a team of Committee scientists, engineers, attorneys and other professional support staff. He has served as Chief of Staff in Gordon’s personal congressional office since 1998, prior to which he was Chief of Staff to former Rep. Scotty Baesler from 1993 to 1998.
During his time on Capitol Hill, Atkins was elected as president of the House Administrative Assistants’ Association (HAAA), a professional association of senior staff and was also selected as a John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Congressional Staff Fellow.
In addition to a former career in community development consulting and real estate development, Atkins also taught college courses in political science and public policy. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1966-1968, including a Vietnam tour. He holds a B.S. with honors from Georgia State University and an M.A. in public administration from The Ohio State University.
