Colonel Carlos M. Collat was commissioned as a Military Intelligence Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 16-66 at Fort Benning, Georgia,
19 October 1966. His first duty assignment was with the 519th Military Intelligence Group, Vietnam.

His subsequent assignments include: Commander, 224th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation) 18th Airborne Corps; Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for Latin American (Central America); Director of JCS /DIA Central American Joint Intelligence Team in support of USSOUTHCOIM; Military Assistant for Army Intelligence Programs for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence OASD/C3I).

His military education and training consists of: Infantry Officer Candidate School, Rotary and Fixed Wing Aviation Course, Tactical Surveillance Officer Course, Electronic Warfare/Cryptologic Course, Military Intelligence Advanced Course, United States Army Command and General Staff College, and National War College.

COL Collat's highest military awards and decorations include: Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal (w/V Device and OLC); Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (w/3 OLC); Air Medal (w/4 Silver OLC and Bronze OLC), the Master Aviator Badge and the Combat Infantryman Badge. In 1991, he was awarded CIA’s National Intelligence Medal of Achievement for his inter-Agency/inter-Service efforts as the founding Director of the DoD-Joint Intelligence Center (DoD JIC) supporting USCENTCOM during Operations DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM.