Eric Atkisson is a Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In this role, he works closely with USPTO leadership on matters related to communications, customer experience, and various agency programs and initiatives.
During his career at the USPTO, Mr. Atkisson has served as a public affairs specialist, writer-editor, supervisory public affairs specialist, and communications manager. In his permanent position, he manages a division of the Office of the Chief Communications Officer (OCCO) responsible for speechwriting, general writing and messaging, protocol, digital communications (including social media and USPTO.gov), employee engagement, brand management, visual design, audiovisual productions, and agency history. He also serves as an advisor to OCCO management and other key USPTO leaders on communications policy and strategy. A founding member of the USPTO Military Association, Mr. Atkisson served for 25 years in the Army Reserve and National Guard, including three wartime deployments to the Middle East. He retired from military service in 2014 at the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Mr. Atkisson has a Bachelor of Arts in history, a Master of Arts in political science, a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing, and an advanced professional certificate in public relations and corporate communications. He is also a graduate of the Defense Information School's Public Affairs Officer Course and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.