Lt. Gen. Heath Collins has become the newest director of the Missile Defense Agency, following his confirmation by the Senate on Dec. 5, the agency said in a statement.
Collins previously served as the program executive officer of the Ground-Based Weapons Systems at MDA, where he managed most major programs like the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, and the four joint U.S.-Israeli programs.
President Biden nominated him to be the 13th MDA director in May, but his confirmation was held up by Sen. Tommy Tuerville’s (R-Ala.) 10 month-long blanket hold on military positions over opposition to DoD abortion and healthcare policies (Defense Daily, May 31).
Tuberville ended his hold this week for all positions except four star-level leaders.
Once confirmed, Collins became MDA director immediately, according to a July memo by under secretary of defense for research and engineering Heidi Shyu.
The memo designated Rear Adm. Douglas Williams, MDA Director for Test, as the agency’s acting director when Vice Adm. Jon Hill’s retired on Aug. 1.
Notably, Shyu’s memo said Williams would remain acting director “until the appointment and confirmation of the next director,” so Collins did not have to wait for an official ceremony to assume leadership.