Thomas H. Collins
Encyclopedia
Thomas Hansen Collins is a retired United States Coast Guard
4 star admiral
who served as the 22nd Commandant
of the United States Coast Guard
from 2002 to 2006.
, Collins graduated from the Coast Guard Academy
in 1968 and later served as a faculty member within the Humanities Department. He earned a Master of Arts
degree in Liberal Studies from Wesleyan University
and a Master of Business Administration
from the University of New Haven
.
. Following that assignment, he served a two-year tour as Commanding Officer of the cutter Cape Morgan, a patrol boat homeported in Charleston, South Carolina
. His shore operational assignments include Deputy Commander, Group St. Petersburg, Florida
, and Commander of Coast Guard Group and Captain of the Port, Long Island Sound, in New Haven, Connecticut
.
From 1998 to 2000 he served as Commander, Pacific Area and Eleventh Coast Guard District, where he developed the successful Coast Guard response to the increase in illegal drug and migrant smuggling traffic in the Eastern Pacific. His other flag assignments include serving as Commander, Fourteenth Coast Guard District in Honolulu, Hawaii
and Chief, Office of Acquisition at Coast Guard Headquarters where he managed the acquisition of twelve major systems worth nearly $3 billion and laid the foundation for the Integrated Deepwater System project, which will modernize the ships, aircraft and sensors that the Coast Guard uses to perform its many open ocean missions.
, the number two post, from 2000 to 2002 where he created the Innovation Council, spearheaded service-wide process improvement initiatives and directed system enhancements as the Coast Guard Acquisition Executive.
from 2002 to 2006, and guided the Coast Guard after the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
Advanced Boat Force Operations Insignia>
Transportation Distinguished Service Medal
Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
with 2 gold award star
s
Meritorious Service Medal
with gold award star
Coast Guard Commendation Medal with 2 gold award stars
Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon
This article contains information from the United States Coast Guard, and by US public law, is in the public domain
.
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
4 star admiral
Admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, admiral is a four-star flag officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below Fleet Admiral in the Navy; the Coast Guard and the Public Health...
who served as the 22nd Commandant
Commandant of the Coast Guard
The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard is the highest ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The Commandant is normally the only four-star Admiral in the Coast Guard and is appointed for a four-year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation by the United...
of the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
from 2002 to 2006.
Background
A native of Stoughton, MassachusettsStoughton, Massachusetts
Stoughton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 26,962 at the 2010 census. The town is located approximately from Boston, from Providence, and from Cape Cod.-History:...
, Collins graduated from the Coast Guard Academy
United States Coast Guard Academy
Founded in 1876, the United States Coast Guard Academy is the military academy of the United States Coast Guard. Located in New London, Connecticut, it is the smallest of the five federal service academies...
in 1968 and later served as a faculty member within the Humanities Department. He earned a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in Liberal Studies from Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
and a Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the University of New Haven
University of New Haven
The University of New Haven is a private university that combines a liberal arts education with professional training. The university comprises five colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the Tagliatela College of Engineering, the Henry C...
.
Operational assignments
Collins began his Coast Guard career as a deck watch officer and first lieutenant aboard the cutter VigilantUSCGC Vigilant (WMEC-617)
USCGC Vigilant is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter. She is the twelfth cutter to bear the name Vigilant, dating back to 1790 when the original Vigilant was built for the Revenue Cutter Service. She was commissioned on October 3, 1964, at Todd Shipyards in Houston, Texas at a...
. Following that assignment, he served a two-year tour as Commanding Officer of the cutter Cape Morgan, a patrol boat homeported in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. His shore operational assignments include Deputy Commander, Group St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, and Commander of Coast Guard Group and Captain of the Port, Long Island Sound, in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
.
Senior and flag officer assignments
Prior to his promotion to Flag Officer in 1994, he served as Chief, Programs Division at Coast Guard Headquarters, and then the Coast Guard’s Deputy Chief of Staff.From 1998 to 2000 he served as Commander, Pacific Area and Eleventh Coast Guard District, where he developed the successful Coast Guard response to the increase in illegal drug and migrant smuggling traffic in the Eastern Pacific. His other flag assignments include serving as Commander, Fourteenth Coast Guard District in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
and Chief, Office of Acquisition at Coast Guard Headquarters where he managed the acquisition of twelve major systems worth nearly $3 billion and laid the foundation for the Integrated Deepwater System project, which will modernize the ships, aircraft and sensors that the Coast Guard uses to perform its many open ocean missions.
Vice-Commandant
Prior to becoming Commandant, he served as the Coast Guard's Vice CommandantVice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard
The Vice Commandant serves as the second-in-command of the United States Coast Guard.Since 1929, 27 officers have served as Vice Commandant, or, as the position was referred to before 1972, Assistant Commandant. The title of the position was changed effective October 2, 1972, pursuant to P.L....
, the number two post, from 2000 to 2002 where he created the Innovation Council, spearheaded service-wide process improvement initiatives and directed system enhancements as the Coast Guard Acquisition Executive.
Commandant
Collins served as the 22nd Commandant of the Coast GuardCommandant of the Coast Guard
The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard is the highest ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The Commandant is normally the only four-star Admiral in the Coast Guard and is appointed for a four-year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation by the United...
from 2002 to 2006, and guided the Coast Guard after the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
Later work
Collins serves as a director on the boards of SPADAC, EID Passport Inc, USIS Inc and Terma North America, and as a director with the Coast Guard Foundation. He consults in areas of national security and maritime security, safety, and environmental protection.Insignia and personal decorations
Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
The Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States by the United States Department of Homeland Security...
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States...
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard that was created in August 1949 by order of the United States Congress. Prior to this date, members of the Coast Guard were eligible to receive the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.The Coast Guard...
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with 2 gold award star
Award star
An award star is a decoration issued to personnel of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard in lieu of multiple awards of the same award. An award star is very similar to an oak leaf cluster, which serves the same purpose in the United States Army and United States Air Force...
s
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with gold award star
Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon
The Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon is the highest personal ribbon award of the United States Coast Guard. The decoration was established in March 1979 by Admiral John B. Hayes....
External links
This article contains information from the United States Coast Guard, and by US public law, is in the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
.