Commander Justin ‘Poodle’ Collins was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. He earned his commission through NROTC at the University of San Diego, where he majored in Business Administration. After receiving his commission, he reported to NAS Pensacola, FL in September 2002 where he completed flight training. On April 30, 2004 he was designated as a Naval Aviator. Commander Collins completed Fleet Replacement Training in the SH-60B helicopter in January 2005 and was assigned to the Scorpions of HSL-49, based at NAS North Island. While at HSL-49, Commander Collins completed Counter Narco-Terroris
Commander Justin ‘Poodle’ Collins was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. He earned his commission through NROTC at the University of San Diego, where he majored in Business Administration. After receiving his commission, he reported to NAS Pensacola, FL in September 2002 where he completed flight training. On April 30, 2004 he was designated as a Naval Aviator. Commander Collins completed Fleet Replacement Training in the SH-60B helicopter in January 2005 and was assigned to the Scorpions of HSL-49, based at NAS North Island. While at HSL-49, Commander Collins completed Counter Narco-Terrorism deployments in USS RENTZ (FFG 46), USS FORD (FFG 54), and USS CROMMELIN (FFG 37) and served as the NATOPS Officer. In November 2008, Commander Collins reported to the Rangers of VT-28 at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas where he completed over 1,100 mishap-free instructor flight hours and earned every possible qualification in the T-34C Mentor. He served as the T-34C Formation Program Manager for the Chief of Naval Air Training and as VT-28’s NATOPS Officer. During this duty, Commander Collins earned his Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the Naval Postgraduate School. In May 2011, Commander Collins was selected to Full-Time Support (FTS) and assigned to the Jaguars of HSL-60 at NS Mayport, FL flying the SH-60B. He completed a Counter Narco-Terrorism deployment as the Assistant Officer-in-Charge in USS ELROD (FFG 55), conducting the Navy’s first Night Airborne Use of Force interdiction during Operation Martillo. He then completed another deployment in USS ELROD (FFG 55) as Officer-in-Charge, operating four MQ-8B Firescout in support of Special Operations Forces in AFRICA COMMAND’s area of responsibility. He finished this tour as HSL-60’s Maintenance Officer, where he oversaw the squadron’s transition from the SH-60B to the MH-60R airframe. Commander Collins reported to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in June 2015 as the FTS Officer C
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Keywords: collins, commander, justin, ‘poodle’
