“Family is everything to him:” Eastern Shore native promoted to General for Maryland Army National Guard

SALISBURY, Md. – “This is what made me, me. To be able to come back to this armory on the shore and have this ceremony means a lot. I couldn’t think of any better place to do it,” Gen. Collins said.

December 28th, 2023; it’s the day Andrew W. Collins went from Colonel to Brigadier General for the Maryland Army National Guard. “I couldn’t be prouder to lead that diverse group of soldiers to not only respond to our federal missions overseas but also here in the state,” Gen. Collins said.

General Collins was born in Crisfield and grew up in Princess Anne where he’d graduate from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

The ceremony was held at the Salisbury armory where General Collins served as the Battalion Commander with the 115 Military Police. General Collions also spent 6 years of his career on active duty.

In his new role, General Collins will be the right hand and second in command to Maj. Adjutant General Janeen Birckhead. She told us that his passion for service which stretches more than two decades made him the right fit for the job. “He’s just another one of those talents that we can add to and raise up as a great example of being from the shore and the products that we produce from here that come to the national guard and do anything they want to do if they put their minds to it,” Gen. Birckhead said.

Yet, the titles General Collins are most proud are husband and father. He married his wife Dr. Christy Collins back in 2004.

Mrs. Collins said the distance did take a toll on their family, but that sacrifice got them where they are today. She said they’ve also formed lasting relationships with other military families along the way. “And to see him go from that to Iraq deployment, active duty and finishing out in Fort Benning, having our daughter, coming here. Family is everything to him,” Mrs. Collins said.

“If you’re a part of the military you have a much larger family. You just have to stand out and ask.”

General Collins is already looking towards the future, his priorities now are to create new partnerships and placing the needs of soldiers first. “If they have an issue, we stop what we’re doing to make sure we’re taking care of soldiers at the end of the day and their families. Without them, we can’t do what we do,” Gen. Collins said.

General Collins has held various command positions over his career which include leading the 115th Military Police Battalion in Afghanistan.

In the new role, General Collins will manage for 4 units.

His promotion also comes amongst 422 other offices across the United States military.