Commander Lee Atkinson was born in 1970 at the British Military Hospital, Changi, Singapore. Shortly thereafter the family returned to the UK, eventually settling in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. He joined the UK Royal Navy in 1988 as a Radio Operator, serving onboard several ships and shoreside Communications Centres, highlights included deployments during the 1 st Gulf War (OP GRANBY) and 2 years working for NATO in Portugal. He was commissioned through the ranks to Sub Lieutenant in 2000 and undertook a standard Warfare Officer route, which included an appointment as Executive Officer HMS DULVERTON while deployed on OP BANNER (Northern Ireland) and commanding a naval detachment during the UK firefighter dispute (OP FRESCO). He gained his qualification as a Principle Warfare Officer, subspecialising in Communications and Electronic Warfare, in 2005. His last Royal Navy, sea going appointment, was onboard the then UK Flagship HMS ARK ROYAL, where he led the Communications, Electronic Warfare and Intelligence Departments. 

In 2008, Commander Atkinson undertook a foreign exchange position at the Canadian Forces Maritime Warfare Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, on completion of which he and his family decided to remain in Canada. He enrolled into the Royal Canadian Navy as a Naval Warfare Officer in December 2012 and after a short period in Halifax, was posted to National Defence HQ Ottawa. His Naval Information Warfare skills were utilised during several postings, including a 6-month deployment as part of OP ARTEMIS in Bahrain. Promoted Commander in March 2019 he undertook roles as a Section Head within Director Naval Requirements and Director Naval Information Warfare, these were separated by a 12-month OP PROTEUS deployment working for the United States Security Coordinator in the West Bank, for which he was awarded the United States Defence Meritorious Service Medal. 

Commander Atkinson obtained a Master of Science degree with distinction in Maritime Studies through Portsmouth University. Lee is pleased to return to his country of birth where he is currently the Deputy Canadian Defence Advisor to Singapore and holds a non-resident accreditation to Brunei Darussalam. Lee and his wife, Natalie, have two adult children and he professes to be a jack of all sports, but master of none.