LTG Collins commissioned as an Armor Officer through the Shippensburg University ROTC program in 1992. As a junior officer, he served as a Tank Platoon Leader in 4th Infantry Division. LTG Collins then transitioned into the Signal Corps, where he served as a Communications Platoon Leader in the 124th Signal Battalion and
as a Battalion Signal Officer and Company Commander in the 1st Infantry Division.
He was assessed into the Acquisition Corps in 2000 and assigned to the U.S. Army Signal Center as a Training and Doctrine Command Systems Manager and Combat Developer. LTG Collins then served as an Assistant Product Manager (APM) for Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) and APM for Software
Integration with Future Combat Systems. LTG Collins was nominated to serve as a Department of the Army Systems Coordinator (DASC) for Tactical Army Communications systems, and later as the Executive Officer for the Army Acquisition Executive and Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology).
LTG Collins was selected as the Army’s Product Manager for Warfighter Information Network – Tactical. Following Senior Service College, he was selected as the Army’s Project Manager for Distributed Common Ground System – Army. LTG Collins then served as the Assistant to the Program Executive Officer for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEW&S) and later as the PEO IEW&S. LTG Collins then served as the Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T).
LTG Collins previously served as the Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management, where he provided executive oversight for the timely delivery of capability to Army and Joint Forces. In January 2024, LTG Collins was appointed as the Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) and Director of the Army Acquisition Corps.
LTG Collins holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, a Master of Arts in Computer Resources and Information Management, a Master of Science in Human Relations, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy. He is a graduate of the Eisenhower School of Strategic Studies, Combined Arms Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, the Armor Officer Basic Course, Signal Advanced Course, and Systems Automation Course.
His military awards and decorations include the Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge, the Legion of Merit Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), the Army Commendation Medal (four awards), the Army Achievement Medal (five awards), National Defense Service Medal (two awards), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War or Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Medal, Army Overseas Medal, NATO Medal and Army Superior Unit Award.
