Bio Sketch

Darlene Collins, PhD

State Commander

Dr. Darlene D. Collins, Ph.D.  is a highly recognized leader, consultant and small business mentor.  She is Owner and President of Allied Performance Consulting which focuses on holistic management consulting, executive coaching, and training workshops. She brings a great deal of business management and human development experience to the BVANM organization. She’s a Dessert Storm veteran who spent 11 Years in the USAF as a supply officer and a training officer.

She is active in the community as State Commander of the NM Black Veterans’ Association, Commander of National Association of Black Veterans (NABVETS) Albuquerque Chapter, VP of Programs for NM ISPI, a member of the Women Vets of NM, Business Professional Women’s (BPW) and a member of three chambers of commerce (AACC NM, AICC, and AHCC).

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John E. Lewis is well known as a dynamic people connector.  Lewis is a Retired Army Gulf War veteran and has repeatedly been recognized for his long and dedicated service to our country  and his ongoing efforts in helping veterans with their disability claims.

Lewis is a member of Tom Udall’s veteran Counsel for the US Senate to help veterans across the country with their disability claims.  He was also a key coordinating member of the NM Legislative Veterans Day committee and was recently recognized for his successful lobbying efforts as NM Legislative Liaison for the BVANM in getting 100% of the veteran bills passed (3 out of 3).

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Ray Collins, BSEE and MA, is a math and electronics faculty instructor at ITT-Tech.  He is an accomplished writer and published authored a diverse selection of works. 

Mr. Collins has excelled in both management and teaching positions in the government and corporate worlds.  He brings strong leadership experience, exceptional organizational and documentation skills along with a get-r-done cheerful disposition to the BVA command council.  He is a member of the Southwest Writer’s Association.  He earned a BS from the University of Texas in engineering and an MA in education from Capella University.  He retired from the US Air Force after completing a long and distinguished 23-year career with honors.  He is co founder of APC Services, a training and business consulting firm based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Darry R. Cross is a true hearted entrepreneur who spent five years as a dynamic supervisor for MCI and  Subsequently, he entered the car sales market in 1983. He established a  family-owned and operated business in 2000, Cross Oxygen Delivery, LLC providing oxygen primarily to elders and the infirmed at the pueblos in the Greater Albuquerque area reaching from Isleta Pueblo to Acoma. .

Cross became affiliated with the BVA NM in 2006 as the Financial Secretary and then moved up to the Financial Officer position. He is known for his stance on transparent and ethical money management which is a tremendous asset to the organization. He brings stability and level headedness and takes his duties seriously.  BVA will benefit from officers who can take in money, account for it properly, and be responsible in the spending and disbursement.  Cross’s holds a conservative position on managing money whether it is group spending or investment.