Michael Atkinson is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T). He received his B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from N.C. A&T in 2002 and 2005, respectively, and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Dayton in 2012. He is the undergraduate faculty advisor for aerospace option, mechanical engineering undergraduate students, and teaches courses in propulsion, marine renewable energy, thermodynamics, and hypersonics. He joined N.C. A&T in 2018 and started the 'Ocean Renewable Energy Program' in the department of mechanical engineering Dr. Atkinson is an affiliate faculty member of the University of North Carolina-Coastal Studies Institute and the Center of Excellence of Product Design and Advanced Manufacturing at N.C. A&T, and serves on the Cape Fear Ocean Lab (CFOL) Advisory Council.