Dax Atkinson serves as Chief Investment Officer of Rockport Companies, where he draws on 25 years of experience investing across the capital structure with a strong emphasis on the oil and gas and industrial sectors. His expertise spans sourcing, structuring, and managing complex investments across private equity, distressed credit, and real assets. Known for his analytical depth and deal execution capabilities, Dax has built a career leading high-impact investment strategies and advising companies through growth, transformation, and monetization.

Dax served as Chief Financial Officer of Independence TX LLC, a family office with holdings in the energy services industry. There, he provided financial leadership across operating and investment platforms. Dax secured third-party capital to build out and support the energy services business and led the modernization of its finance and accounting functions.

Before joining Independence TX, Dax spent over six years at Castlelake LP as Managing Director in the Special Situations Group, where he managed the firm’s oil and gas portfolio. He deployed and actively managed close to $1 billion across platforms, including distressed asset acquisitions, recapitalizations, start-ups, and growth equity investments. His work included full-cycle investment responsibility—from origination through exit—and close collaboration with portfolio company leadership to improve operations and enhance capital efficiency.

Earlier in his career, Dax held senior investment roles at CarVal Investors LLC and Deephaven Capital LLC, where he focused on distressed credit and special situations across multiple sectors, including oil and gas exploration, energy services and shipping. At CarVal, he co-developed and served as execution lead for a shipping investment platform in partnership with Cargill, Inc. Dax began his career in investment banking at Piper Jaffray, where he supported M&A and capital markets transactions for financial institutions.

Dax holds a Bachelor of Science with Distinction and Honors in Finance from Iowa State University and is a CFA charterholder. He has served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards, including Orion Drilling, Diamond S Shipping, and Iowa Pacific Holdings. Dax lives in Independence, Minnesota with his wife of 25 years and their three children. Outside of work, the family is passionate about breeding, raising, and showing American Quarter Horses, actively participating in competitions nationwide and supporting youth involvement in the sport.