 Collins akashanda sa 22nd Commandant of the Coast Guard kubva muna May 2002 kusvika muna May 2006, uye akatungamirira U.S. Coast Guard mumashure mekurwiswa kwaSeptember 11 muna 2001. Sechikamu cheizvi, Collins akakurudzira vanhu vanoita basa rokutakura zvinhu nomugungwa uye vanoshandisa zvikepe zvekuvaraidza kuti vaudze National Response Center nezvezvinhu zvavanofunga kuti zviri kuitika. Purogiramu iyi yakawedzerwa ndokuitwa kuti ive yepamutemo seAmericas Waterway Watch muna 2005. 