Lieutenant General Heath Collins is the Director, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and advises the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering on Missile Defense programmatic policy, requirements, priorities, systems, resources, and programs. MDA's global mission is to develop, test, field, and sustain integrated, layered missile defense capabilities to defend the United States, its deployed forces, allies and friends against missile attacks in all phases of flight. Collins directs the $11 billion global organization with more than 9,000 military, civilian and contract personnel. He exercises management oversight for the Missile Defense System to include program management of missile defense resources which he synchronizes with the services in support of Combatant Command requirements.

Collins previously served as the Program Executive for Ground-based Weapon Systems for the Missile Defense Agency. Programs in Collins' portfolio included Ground-based Midcourse Defense, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System, four Joint U.S. and Israeli Programs, and several classified programs collectively valued at over $3.4 billion annually.

Collins entered the Air Force in 1993, receiving his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Clarkson University. His acquisition, space, test, operations, and staff assignments encompass weapons, electronic countermeasures, space, radar, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, nuclear, fighter, bomber, and missile defense systems. He has served in numerous program management and senior leader positions including Air Force Program Executive Officer for Weapons, Air Force Program Executive Officer for Fighters and Bombers, System Program Director for the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (Sentinel) program, Deputy Director for the Infrared Space Systems Directorate and the Remote Sensing Systems Directorate, Deputy Group Commander, Wideband Satellite Communications Systems, and Commander, Space Based Infrared System Space Squadron. Collins has also served in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, overseeing the department's Airborne ISR; Space; and Special Programs. He is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He holds master’s degrees from Florida State University, Air University and National Defense University.