LeRoy Collins III serves as Vice President of Cybersecurity at CEA Group, a boutique investment and merchant banking firm with offices in Florida and London. In this role, he originates and executes strategic opportunities at the intersection of cybersecurity, intelligence, and national security—cultivating partnerships across government, military, and private-sector stakeholders.
Collins brings a rare, mission-driven perspective shaped by his years of experience spanning elite military service, public-sector leadership, and high-growth venture execution. He currently holds an active U.S. government security clearance.
Prior to CEA Group, Collins was part of the City of Tampa’s Economic and Urban Development Department’s team, where he acted as the City Liaison to MacDill Air Force Base—home to U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command. In this capacity, he served in leadership protecting MacDill AFB from closure during the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. He personally initiated and secured more than $2.1 million in state funding to acquire and safeguard strategic real estate assets identified by the U.S. government.
Earlier in his career, Collins held senior roles at Z-Tel Communications, where he served as Territory Manager and Director of Military Sales. He built and led a seven-state operation generating $6.1 million in annual revenue. During his tenure, the company successfully completed an IPO on the NASDAQ, underscoring his experience in scaling ventures and navigating capital markets.
Collins began his career in service to the nation as an Airborne Ranger with the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington, under U.S. Special Operations Command. As a paratrooper, he conducted high-speed tactical operations and training before receiving an honorable discharge.
He remains actively engaged in advancing veteran care, ethics, and public leadership. Collins serves on the Board of Directors for the Tampa VA Research and Education Foundation at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, the Board of Directors for the LeRoy Collins Institute at Florida State University, and the Advisory Board for the LeRoy Collins Public Ethics Academy at Florida Atlantic University.
Collins earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia.
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