JAMES A. COLLINS BIOGRAPHY

James A. Collins was born in West Point, Mississippi.  After graduating from West Point High School, he attended Mississippi State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.

James has received many medals, awards, ribbons, and certificates for his 20 years of military service.  He was ordained as a Deacon at Solomon Temple Baptist Church in October 1995 and served at other churches (St. Mark, New Mt. Marriah, First Baptist, and New Life in Christ) and currently attending Redeemers House of Worship in Belleville, IL.

James and his wife Marilynn reside in Shiloh, IL and have a son, James and a daughter, Jennifer.

– Completed 35 hours of Project Management training in November 2014.

James graduate focus was at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and Joint Forces Staff College focus was on Military Arts and Science and a graduate of the Defense Acquisition University with a focus in Contract Management.

After graduating from college, James began his professional career in the transportation field working for Roadway Trucking Company as an Operations Supervisor and then to McLean Trucking Company as a Dispatch Supervisor.  After 2 ½ years in the civilian sector, he began his military career by enlisting in the United States Navy.  Commands that James have served at are as follows:

• Naval Education and Training Center, Orlando, FL
• Naval Education and Training Center, Meridian, MS

–     USS CALIFORNIA (CGN-36), Alameda, CA

–     U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School, Newport Rhode Island

–     Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW) School, San Diego, CA

–     USS SAMUEL GOMPERS (AD-37), Alameda, CA

–     USS KANSAS CITY (AOR-3), Oakland, CA

–     U.S. Navy Supply Corps Department Head School, Athens, GA

–     USS MOUNT HOOD (AE-29), Concord, CA

–     Navy Manpower Analysis Center (NAVMAC), Millington, TN

–     Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), Pensacola, FL 

–     U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS

–     Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA

–     Unites States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), Scott AFB, IL

In the list of military commands above, James has served in several senior leadership roles in Transportation, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations (Transportation), Warehousing, Financing, Food Service Management, and Engineering.  In these roles James has managed and supervised from 50 to 300 personnel.  In September 2003, James completed all requirements to at USTRANSCOM to be designated as a Joint Services Officer (JSO).  He served as 1 of 4 Current Operations Chiefs at Headquarters, U. S. Transportation Command for OPERATIONS ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQ FREEDOM on the Global War on Terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq.

After 20 ½ years in the military, James transitioned into the civilian sector in January 2004.  He’s held the following leadership positions:

Business Development Manager, Global Customer Solutions (GCS), DHL Express

Director, Business Development, Military & Government – DHL Global Forwarding

Senior Director, Foreign Military Sales – DHL Global Forwarding

Vice President, Business Development & Compliance – Final Mile Logistics

President, M2 Transport, Government & Military

Vice President, Sales – Commercial / Government & Military – M2 Transport

Professional organizations memberships include:

• Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) St. Louis Committee, St Louis, MO
• Project Management Institute (PMI), St. Louis Chapter
• National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA)
• Surface Deployment Distribution Command (SDDC)
• Association of the United States Army (AUSA)