Ronald R. Collins - 2011 Welmore Cook Community Service Awardee

Mr. Collins has extensive experience in management and in critical public policy issues in the area of contracting and procurement, health and human services, and systems management. Prior to his initial appointment as the Director of Boards and Commissions, Mr. Collins served as the Senior Policy Officer in the D.C. Office of Contracting and Procurement. He has also served as the Agency Chief Contracting Officer for the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department; the Chief Operating Officer, Chief of Staff and Agency Chief Contracting Officer for the Department of Health; and the Deputy Director (Acting) and Chief of Staff, respectively, for the District Department of Human Services. Before joining the Department of Human Services, Mr. Collins served as the Chief of Staff and Staff Director of the Council of the District of Columbia's Committee on Human Services.

Notwithstanding his professional responsibilities, Mr. Collins is affiliated with and actively participates in several professional organizations including: the Public Section on Contract Law, American Bar Association; the American Public Human Services Association; the National Contract Management Association; the National Forum of Black Public Administrators; and the National Institute for Government Purchasing.

Further, Mr. Collins is an elected member of the DC Democratic State Committee (Ward 6, Male) where he also serves as chairperson of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee. In addition, Mr. Collins has been active in several other community organizations, including having served as a board member and chairperson of the Wiley Branton Community Development Organization, Inc.; a member of the DC State Health Planning and Development Council (SHPDA); the Metropolitan Washington Health Services (Ryan White) Planning Council; the Mayor's Early Childhood Development Coordinating Committee; the DC Commission of Public Health Policy Forum; the DC Coordinating Committee on Early Intervention Services; the Ward 2 Redistricting Task Force; the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, where he served as a District Representative and as Vice President; the Ward 2 Democrats; the Ward 6 Democrats; the Board of Directors of the Whitman-Walker Clinic, Inc.; on the Board of Directors of the United Planning Organization; and as a lector at his parish church.

Mr. Collins has also been the recipient of several awards and certificates of recognition, including: DC Incentive Performance Award (Cash Award) (2009, 2008, 2007); Wanda Alston Democratic Service Award (2007), Gertrude Stein Democratic Club; Program Award (2005) as Director of the Office of Boards and Commissions from the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation; Executive Office of the Mayor Achievement Award from Mayor Anthony A. Williams (2004); DC Incentive Performance Award (Cash Award) (2004); "Outstanding Public Service Recognition Resolution" from the Council of the District of Columbia (1992); "Special Service Award", DC Association for Retarded Citizens (1990); the GLAA Community Appreciation Award (1991); recipient of the Community Services Award from the Latin American Youth Center (1989); and "Certificate of Appreciation" from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments for coordinating the first-in-the-nation regional conference on HIV and AIDS (1985).

Mr. Collins resides in the Southwest area of the District of Columbia.