BGen Collins enlisted in the Marine Corps in May 1990. Following the School of Infantry, he reported to Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., serving at the Barracks until selected for the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program in 1993. Commissioned in May 1995, BGen Collins completed The Basic School and the Logistics Officers’ Course and was designated a Logistics Officer.
BGen Collins has served in each of the Marine Expeditionary Forces in both the Ground and Logistics Combat Elements. As a Company Grade Officer, he served in 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division; II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Unitas; and 3d Force Service Support Group. As a Field Grade Officer, he served in both First and Second Marine Logistics Groups. He served as Commanding Officer, Combat Logistics Battalion 26 and as a Colonel he served as the Assistant Chief of Staff G-4, 3d Marine Division. As a General Officer he has served as the Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces South.
In the supporting establishment, BGen Collins was assigned to Logistics Operations School, Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools; Officer Candidates’ School; and the Operations Division, Plans, Policies and Operations Department, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps. He served as the Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Logistics Operations Group, Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force Training Command and was assigned as the Director, Logistics Combat Element Integration Division, Capabilities Development Directorate, Combat Development and Integration, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps.
BGen Collins has served on joint duty in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as a military assistant to the Department of Defense Executive Secretary and as a Deputy Director for Operations in the Operations Directorate (J3) of the Joint Staff.
BGen Collins has participated in combat operations during Operation Enduring Freedom II, serving on the staff of the Logistics and Resources Directorate, Office of Military Cooperation – Afghanistan; Future Operations and Plans Officer, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) during Operation Iraqi Freedom 08.1 and 08.2; and Executive Officer for Combat Logistics Battalion 1 during Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan 09.1. His service with Combat Logistics Battalion 26 included deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2013 to the US Central Command area of responsibility.
BGen Collins is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies, the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, and the United Kingdom Higher Command and Staff Course.