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AFMS leader Maj. Gen. Sean T. Collins retires after 31 years of service

  • Published
  • By Maristela Romero
  • Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs

AFMS Around the AFMS Button

FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- After 31 years of military service, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Sean T. Collins, Air National Guard assistant to the Surgeon General and director of Space Force Medical Operations Directorate, retired during a ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., May 1, 2026.

Family and colleagues from every stage of Collins’ military career attended the ceremony, in-person and virtually, to recognize his impact on the Air Force Medical Service community and the operational mission.

Image of Airmen displaying the U.S. flag.

AFMS leader Maj. Gen. Sean T. Collins retires after 31 years of service

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Janquil Jackson, Air Force Medical Command Transition Task Force senior enlisted leader, and Master Sgt. Danielle Lytle, assignment manager to the 4X Chief Enlisted Manager codes and the 9G group superintendent management, perform a flag-folding ceremony during a retirement ceremony for U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Sean T. Collins at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., May 1, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Megan Hearst)
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AFMS leader Maj. Gen. Sean T. Collins retires after 31 years of service

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. John J. DeGoes, U.S. Air Force Surgeon General, Air Force Medical Command commander, and senior medical advisor to the Chief of Space Operations, joins Sharon Collins, and U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Sean T. Collins, Air National Guard assistant to the Surgeon General and director of Space Force Medical Operations Directorate, for a photo during Collins’ retirement ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., May 1, 2026. During the ceremony Collins presented wife and three children with certificates of appreciation and medals for their support throughout his 31 years of military service. (U.S. Air Force photo by Megan Hearst)
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Lt. Gen. John J. DeGoes, U.S. Air Force Surgeon General, Air Force Medical Command commander, and senior medical advisor to the Chief of Space Operations, presided over the ceremony and presented Collins with the Air Force Distinguished Service medal.

“Today we celebrate not just the end of a long-storied uniformed career, but the legacy of a leader who has left an indelible mark on the United States Air Force and all who have had the privilege of serving with him,” DeGoes said.

In his most recent roles, Collins championed DeGoes’ vision to achieve the AFMS strategic imperatives as the senior medical advisor to ANG leadership, and spearheaded health care and medical readiness support to Space Force Guardians within the directorate he helped establish in 2023.

Collins also served as the first AFMEDCOM commander, leading the command through its initial operating capability in March 2025 and first inter-command transfer of medical personnel.

Collins began his military career in 1995 as a clinical nurse assigned to the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Massachusetts. During the ceremony, citing Collins’ 21 years of service at Barnes ANG, retired Lt. Gen. Scott Rice, former Air National Guard director and Massachusetts National Guard adjutant general, presented Collins with the Massachusetts Medal of Merit.

Image of Airmen carrying a patient.

AFMS leader Maj. Gen. Sean T. Collins retires after 31 years of service

Then-U.S. Air Force Maj. Sean T. Collins, nursing administrator with the 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, right, carries a litter with other medics during a deployment with the 407th Expeditionary Medical Group to Talil Air Base, Iraq, December 2004. (Courtesy photo by U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Sean T. Collins)
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Brig. Gen. Sean T. Collins of the 104th Fighter Wing, a native of Springfield, Massachusetts, is selected as the Assistant for Mobilization and Reserve Affairs, Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs. In this role General Collins will serve as principle advisor to the Director of Health Affairs on Reserve Component matters for both National Guard and Reserve. Collins promotion to Brig. Gen. was held at the Springfield armory historical national park, June 12, 2016. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Tech Sgt. Melanie Casineau)
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U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Sean T. Collins, right, a native of Springfield, Massachusetts, Assistant to the Deputy Surgeon General, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, speaks with Maryland Emergency Management Agency Community Vaccination Center (CVC) Coordinator Kenneth Maloney, left, along with David Zarnick, center left, Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Site Manager, at the federally-run pilot CVC at the Greenbelt Metro Station in Greenbelt, Maryland, May 5, 2021. U.S. Northern Command, through U.S. Army North, remains committed to providing continued, flexible Department of Defense support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of the whole-of-government response to COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Devon Jones /5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) (This photo has been altered for security purposes by blurring out an ID card)
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While assigned to the 104th Fighter Wing, Collins deployed as a clinical provider to support operational missions in Italy, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2008, he was chief combat medical advisor of the Coalition Air Force Transition Team for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Additionally, he had multiple stateside deployments including support for post 9/11 homeland defense and COVID-19 response efforts.

Reflecting on his experiences within the Air Force Medical Service, Collins said, “thank you for the opportunity to have led in this organization.”

Collins credited his family for being his guiding force in driving him to embody service before self, an Air Force principle he said he has carried throughout his career. He concluded the ceremony with heartfelt gratitude toward his team and colleagues who have served alongside him.

Indicating the shadow box filled with items representing his career, Collins said “every picture that I have, every decoration - there’s a story behind that.” He said the efforts that led him to this point were not his work alone, rather it was the efforts of those who walked alongside him.

“Don’t underestimate the impact you have on an individual whether they retire or pass on,” Collins said. “Nothing would have been possible without the support of those people who have been in my life.”

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U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Sean Collins joins his family for a photo during his promotion ceremony to the rank of major general at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, June 2, 2023. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Sean T. Collins)
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