About me
My name is Lukas Atwell, but my friends know me as TJ. I’m a communication strategist and consultant with more than twenty years of experience leading teams, advising executives, and helping organizations communicate clearly. I began my career as a Marine Corps photojournalist and public affairs chief, later serving as a communication advisor and instructor at the Defense Information School, and eventually as the Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District.
In 2025, I stepped away from federal service to complete my M.A. in Communication at Merrimack College and to expand my consulting practice, which I have operated under my name since 2018, where I help organizations strengthen their message, media presence, and stakeholder trust. My experience has developed strengths in media relations, message development, leadership communication, and digital storytelling.
Outside of work, I’m a father of three teenagers who keep my humor sharp and my schedule full. I train in the gym almost every day and spend much of my free time outdoors mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, and soon, trying cross-country skiing. I sometimes compete in triathlons and plan to try gravel bike racing soon. I also paint, draw, read, and take photos of small wildlife like fungi and slime molds. My two dogs are spoiled, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Resume
Below is a current version of my professional résumé, highlighting education, leadership, and communication achievements. For additional details or a longer version tailored to federal experience, please contact me directly.
Personal Projects
Dark Future Games began as a simple way to share my hobby, but it unexpectedly became my first crash course in “online” communication. Between 2008 and 2015, what started as a personal blog grew into a community with ten contributing authors, sponsored contests, cross-site collaborations, and an audience that peaked at over 100,000 monthly visitors. Managing that platform required everything from editorial leadership and branding to audience engagement and crisis management. This was all while managing a military newspaper, then deploying to Iraq, then moving and working within marketing for a recruiting command in Michigan. This was long before I had formal training. Along the way, I learned how to coordinate voices, balance creative freedom with consistency, and adapt messaging across multiple contributors and platforms. Looking back, Dark Future Games was the first place I learned to lead a communication effort, measure impact, and build credibility entirely through message quality and community trust. Click the image to see more.
First Step 24 was a 24-hour charity walk I created, branded, and executed in 2019 to raise funds for 24 different charities. I designed the logo, built the campaign strategy, and managed every aspect of promotion, from coordinating outsourced video production to conducting grassroots social media and self-produced content. The event raised over $6,000 and drew regional media coverage, including a feature by Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. What began as a physical challenge became a full communication campaign requiring planning, brand management, storytelling, and audience engagement. First Step 24 taught me how authenticity, visual identity, and consistent messaging turn a simple idea into a community-driven movement.