Jimmy Collins is a man who knows how to multitask.

The retired Army major general, who has lived in Steilacoom since 2005, juggles a variety of ventures - many of which are in the interest of the Army as well as its servicemembers and their families.

Collins retired from Fort Lewis in 2006 after serving as the I Corps deputy commanding general and chief of staff. Prior to that assignment, he served in a variety of active-duty and Reserve positions over his more than 35-year military career, including as commander of 70th Regional Support Command with deployable U.S. Army Reserve forces in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. In 2008, Collins retired from Weyerhaeuser as the vice president of procurement.

However, Collins isn't resting on his retirement laurels. In fact, it seems as though he has no time to rest at all. He is the founder and president of the Association of the United States Army's (AUSA) Captain Meriwether Lewis Steilacoom subchapter, chairman of the 2012 SeaFair Festival in Seattle, a member of the TriWest Healthcare Executive Advisory Board and one of the founders of Hire America's Heroes, a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization that connects major corporations with servicemembers and their families.

The Distinguished Eagle Scout has also volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for many years, most recently serving as president of the Pacific Harbors Council, in which he had oversight of eight counties and 50 board members. Though no longer officially with the organization, Collins still assists with BSA events and fundraising, he said.

In addition to the myriad of executive boards and organizations with which he is affiliated, Collins also runs his own leadership and consulting business - Jimmy Collins & Associates. In this capacity and using his success as a Soldier and businessman, he consults with businesses to help them identify what they want and how best to attain it, he said.

Clearly, Collins is plugged in to the local community. The connections he has forged and honed over the years - from business and military service to family and community involvement - are what allow him to be effective as Washington's Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA), a position to which he was appointed last year. In this role, he works to "tend the relationship between the Army and its constituents in Washington," he said.

But what does that really entail?

In essence, Collins lets the Army know about Washington's concerns and perceptions.  As an active member of the community, he is privy to what topics are important to those living and working here and he can relay those concerns, along with suggestions, to Secretary of the Army John McHugh. This, in turn, provides the Army insight into which issues are highest priority to the local community and - through Collins and other CASAs throughout the country - stay in touch with local populations and ultimately the nation as a whole.

The position is designated as a "Special Government Employee" (SGE), which, according to Army Regulation 1-15, means Collins receives no salary, wages or benefits for his work, though he is reimbursed for expenses. There is at least one CASA from each state, and the position requires direct association with Secretary McHugh.

Jimmy Collins is also a family man whose local roots run deep. Both of his children were born at Madigan when Collins was stationed at Fort Lewis in the late 1970s, and both are still close to home. His daughter, Lauren, works for Weyerhaeuser and his son, Capt. Andy Collins, is a member of the Washington Army National Guard (currently deployed to Kuwait). Wife Linda works as a teacher-librarian at Curtis Junior High School in University Place, and his parents live at Patriots Landing in DuPont.

"I don't have to work," Collins said of his ‘retirement.' "I choose to stay physically and intellectually engaged in things where I believe I can make a difference."