Christopher C. Collins is the Executive Director, Developmental Test, Evaluation, and Assessments (ED,DTE&A) within the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense (Research and Engineering).  DTE&A provides support to DoD acquisition programs in the use of innovative and efficient DT&E strategies to ensure production readiness and fielded systems meet Warfighter/User needs; improve the Defense Acquisition T&E workforce “practice of the profession;” and advance T&E policy and guidance.  DTE&A also conducts Independent Technical Review Assessments (ITRA) and Milestone Assessments for major acquisition programs.

Mr. Collins was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in April 2020.  Prior to his appointment, he was the COMNAVSEASYSCOM Deputy for Test and Evaluation.  He has also served within various engineering and test leadership positions in the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Program within the Missile Defense Agency, and also completed a one-year experiential assignment with the U.S. Air Force on the Headquarters Staff.

Mr. Collins career began in 1984 with a commission from the U.S. Naval Academy.  Mr. Collins completed an combined Active Component and Reserve Component career and retired after 30 years at the rank of Navy Captain.  Mr. Collins completed several deployments as a Navy helicopter pilot while on active duty,  and supported Navy technology transition initiatives and assessments at the Office of Naval Research while on reserve duty.  During his reserve tenure, Mr. Collins held command of two Reserve Component Commands.

Mr. Collins has a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master’s of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.  Mr. Collins also graduated with distinction from both the Navy Command and Staff College (distance education) and the Air War College (in-resident).  Mr. Collins is a graduate of the 2016 cohort of the Defense Senior Leader Development Program.  Mr. Collins is a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps, and has achieved Level III Certification in Program Management, Engineering, and Test and Evaluation.