Brigadier General Thad J. Collard was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant Medical Service Corps Officer (Regular Army) through the ROTC program at the University of Southern California, where he was awarded a 4-year ROTC National Scholarship and the Army ROTC Superior Cadet Decoration. He graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering. In 1999, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Colorado – Colorado Springs. In 2020, he graduated with honors as a Superior Graduate from the United States Army War College (USAWC) with a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies. He holds an academic appointment as Assistant Professor, USAWC.
His military education includes the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Officer Basic Course; Medical Logistics Management Course; Combat Casualty Care Course; AMEDD Captains Career Course; Health Services Plans Operations Intelligence, Security and Training Course; Combined Arms Exercise; Health Service Human Resource Manager Course; Command and General Staff College; Defense Strategy Course; Reserve Component National Strategy Course; Brigade Pre-Command Course; Senior Officer Legal Orientation; Medical Strategic Leadership Program; Advanced Strategic Art Program; the Senior Manager Course in National Security Leadership and Senior Service College.
BG Collard’s most recent assignment was as the John Parker Chair of Reserve Component Studies at the USAWC. He also served as the Health Human Resources Army Reserve Consultant to the Surgeon General. BG Collard has a personnel, operations and logistics background and served in numerous leadership and staff positions. Prior assignments include Brigade Commander, Western Medical Area Readiness Support Group, San Pablo, California; Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel (G-1), 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support), Fort Douglas, Utah; Executive Officer, 6250th U.S. Army Hospital, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Washington; Commander, 7229th Medical Support Unit, JBLM, Washington; Troop Commander (DIMA), Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington; Chief Medical Mentor for the Afghan National Police, Joint Task Force 1 / Regional Command East, Gardez, Afghanistan; Chief, Medical Operations and Plans, I Corps, JBLM, Washington; Administrative Officer, Department of Anesthesia and Operative Services, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington; Mobilization and Operations Officer, Western Regional Medical Command, Fort Lewis, Washington; Medical Logistics Officer (DIMA), Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland; Medical Logistics Officer, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colorado; Medical Platoon Leader, 1-8 Infantry Battalion (Mechanized); Training Officer, 10th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Carson, Colorado.
BG Collard's awards and badges include the Meritorious Service Medal (4 oak leaf clusters); Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal (1 oak leaf cluster); Army Achievement Medal (2 oak leaf clusters); Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (4 oak leaf clusters); Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Mobilization device and 1 oak leaf cluster); Overseas Service Ribbon; Expert Field Medic Badge; Combat Action Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
He is married to Denise Laster Collard, and they are the proud parents of three sons and a daughter-in-law: Troy, Carson, Jack and Devyn. Previous to his Active Duty tour at the Army War College, they lived in Olympia, Washington and BG Collard served as the Health System Administrator, Surgical Services Service Line, Madigan Army Medical Center, in his civilian capacity.