Arlington, VA – Today, President Biden appointed Ellie Collinson to serve as the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Collinson served in the Biden-Harris Administration as Chief of Staff to the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary of Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Ms. Collinson has over 20 years of professional operations and organizational leadership experience in the small business, nonprofit, political, and governmental arenas.
“USTDA is an organization with diverse, multi-disciplinary teams that are passionate about their work. I am motivated to ensure that this Agency has the internal infrastructure that it requires to continue its growth and build on its reputation as one of the world’s leading project preparation facilities,” said Collinson. “It is an honor to join USTDA and its global team of professionals.”
Ms. Collinson has been responsible for leading teams undergoing rapid expansion, downsizing, and leadership transitions on multiple occasions in her career. She has developed programs, and standalone organizations, and has worked with individual and institutional investors to design strategies and tactical plans for political, policy, and social change.
As Chief of Staff to the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary of Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Ms. Collinson led a team whose portfolio spanned Security & Intelligence, Budget, Acquisition Management, Facilities, Civil Rights, Performance Management, Human Resources, Privacy & Open Government, and Financial Management.
Ms. Collinson graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Colorado College with a degree in Asian Studies and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Colorado-Denver.
Ms. Collinson is also a proud disabled lesbian and has served on the DC Human Rights Commission for the past six years as a Mayoral appointee.
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
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