Photo of Lt. Gen. Heath Collins/ U.S. Air Force
Lieutenant General Heath Collins: Afternoon Keynote Speaker at the 2024 Space Summit
Lieutenant General Heath Collins is the Director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Having been in the military for over three decades, initially in the Air Force and then transferring to joint commands, he boasts the qualifications to deliver the keynote address at the 2024 Space Summit.
Hear the credible insights from Lieutenant General Heath Collins, who is delivering the afternoon keynote speech at the 2024 Space Summit.
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Heath Collins: Who is he?
Heath A. Collins began his military career in 1993, joining as the Missile Analyst of the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron. Demonstrating excellence in this capacity, he was promoted as the squadron’s Advanced Missile Flight Test Engineer after only a year.
Progressing in his career, Collins has significantly contributed to various commands, offices, and squadrons of the U.S. Air Force. Moreover, he served in pivotal roles for various joint assignments for the Department of Defense, including:
- Deputy Director of Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Programs at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (June 2011–June 2012)
- Deputy Director of Space and Special Programs at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (June 2012–June 2013)
- Program Executive for Ground-Based Weapon Systems at the Missile Defense Agency (July 2022–December 2023)
- Director at the Missile Defense Agency (December 2023–Present)
Read more: Arrow 3 Interceptor Missile System: The Ultimate Layer of Defense?
Hear the keynote address of Lt. Gen. Heath Collins at the 2024 Space Summit
Lieutenant General Heath Collins is invited as the afternoon keynote speaker at the 2024 Space Summit. Spending most of his career in the Air Force and eventually in the MDA, he has gained unique multi-domain insights, which he is sharing in his address.
Joining Lt. Gen. Collins in the roster of space leaders speaking at the summit include Gen. Stephen Whiting, Dr. Derek Tournear, and Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton.
- When: March 05, 2024 (7:00 a.m. – 1:45 p.m./ ET)
- Where: Hilton-McLean, 7920 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA
Lt. Gen. Heath Collins’s priorities as Director of the Missile Defense Agency
Lt. Gen. Heath Collins became the Director of the Missile Defense Agency in December 2023. This comes after his nearly two-year tenure as the agency’s Program Executive for Ground-Based Weapon Systems. Lt. Gen. Collins manages the $11 billion defense organizations, with over 9,000 military, civilian, and contracting personnel.
In this capacity, Lt. Gen. Collins upholds the MDA’s mission of developing, testing, fielding, and sustaining multiple layers of missile defense of the United States. He guarantees the federal government, its forces, allies, and partners have a defense arsenal against all types of missile attacks in all phases of flight.
On top of directing the MDA, Lt. Gen. Health advises the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. He advises on multi-domain missile defense programmatic policy, requirements, priorities, systems, resources, and programs.
Related article: General Chance Saltzman: The Rise of the “Father of Multi-Domain Operations”
Heath Collins: Major Awards, Education, and Military Ranks
Heath Collins started as a second lieutenant and worked his way up to become the Lieutenant General. In line with his increasing military ranks, Collins’ strategic planning and cross-functional team leadership have decorated him with various awards, namely:
- Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
- Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Air and Space Commendation Medal
- Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award
- Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
- Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award with four oak leaf clusters
Other notable accolades that the MDA Director has received over the years include distinction as the Distinguished Graduate Air Command and Staff College in 2006, Air Force ACAT I Program Manager of the Year in 2016, and Air Force Nuclear Deterrence Operations Professional Team of the Year in 2017.
Lt. Gen. Heath Collins completed his Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Clarkson University in 1993. He also has a Master’s in Military National Resource Strategy and Policy from Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy (2011), a Master’s in Military Operational Art and Science/Studies (2006), a Master of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (1996).
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