James Baldwin Collins was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He graduated from Father Bertrand High School in 1967 and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration Marketing and Management from Christian Brothers University in 1984.
James' military and civilian career with the Department of the Navy (DON) spanned 30 years. In 1998, James became the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) Comptroller / Resources Management Office Head of the Programming and Budget Formulation Branch. He was promoted to Budget Director (GS-14) and served in this position from February 2002 to the end of 2004. He officially retired in April 2005.
James was a member of the American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC) Tri-State Chapter. He was very engaged in both National ASMC and local chapter activities. He received numerous awards during his federal service including a Meritorious Civilian Service Award, and coveted ASMC Tri-State Chapter Financial Management Leadership Award. James was a true supporter of ASMC's goals to promote higher education and career development.
James was very committed to his family, friends and co-workers. He is survived by wife, Gwen Collins, an honoray member of the ASMC Tri-State Chapter, his daughter Monica Collins Glass and his son Corey Collins. He always shared his vast knowledge in financial management. Through the James Baldwin Collins Memorial Scholarship, started in April 2006, his legacy lives on!
The Mission of the James B. Collins Memorial Fund is to promote continuing education for the students in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas by making financial contributions to them in the form of scholarships on an annual basis and to assist in finding a cure for cancer by making monetary contributions to the American Cancer Society and other organizations that share the goal of finding a cure.
