STATE SENATOR JAY COLLINS

Jarrid “Jay” Collins is a highly-decorated Army Special Forces combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient with over two decades of service including five years as an active duty Green Beret following the amputation of his leg. 

Adopted and raised by his grandparents, Collins spent his early years on his family’s farm. Collins would start college before enlisting in the Army, following in the footsteps of his WWII veteran adoptive father. 

While attending Airborne School, our nation was attacked on 9/11. This inspired Collins to attend Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS). 

He was selected to become a Special Force Medic, rescuing a hypothermic classmate in the middle of an ice storm, and earned the leadership award at his Special Forces Graduation. 

As a Green Beret, Collins deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and twice to South America. In his 2007 Afghanistan deployment, Collins was hit in the arm, continued fighting, and later helped perform surgery on himself in the field of battle. Staying in country, he returned to full combat operations after just 30 days of recovery.

A few months later, he sustained injuries that would eventually lead to the amputation of his leg years later. Collins overcame his chronic injuries to be selected for US Army Special Operations Command, but ultimately had to have his leg amputated due to the severity of his condition. Following his amputation, Collins requalified as a fully deployable Green Beret and served over five more years on active duty. 

Following 23 years of service, Collins took a position with a nonprofit, overseeing the distribution of millions of meals to veterans, first responders, and those in need. He was elected to the Florida Senate in 2022 for a six-year term.

Collins is married to his wife of 21 years Layla, a retired veteran with 20 years of service herself, and a father to two young sons, Gabe and Colt. Having chosen Tampa as the place they would raise their family, proud Floridians Jay and Layla are dedicated to serving their community.