Francisco J. Collazo

Francisco J. Collazo (born 1931) is the CEO and President of Collazo Enterprises Inc. He is the co-founder of COLSA Corporation, a business enterprise which provides engineering and support services to NASA, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Missile Defense Agency. COLSA Corp. is recognized by Hispanic Business Magazine as being one of the top 100 Hispanic Businesses in the United States.

Early years
Collazo was born in the city of Utuado, Puerto Rico and grew up on his father's farm. There he received his primary education. In 1946, he dropped out of high school and joined the United States Army. He continued his education while serving in the military and retired from the Army after 30 years of service with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. Among his military decorations was the Meritorious Service Medal and the Bronze Star Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster for his service during the Vietnam War.

Collazo attended the University of Texas where he earned a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Computer Science and later earned a master of Computer Systems Engineering from the Southeastern Institute of Technology.

COLSA Corporation
Collazo and his wife, whom he married in 1955, moved to Huntsville, Alabama. In 1980, they founded COLSA Corporation in the garage of their home. The principal idea behaind the foundation of the new company, who had 20 employees by 1983, to provide systems analysis and engineering in support of air defense systems material development. That same year, the Government awarded COLSA its first prime contract.

The company moved from Collazo's garage to South Memorial Parkway in Huntsville and later to Sparkman Drive. The company is current;y located in Cummings Research Park. In 1997, COLSA was awarded the Cogswell Award for Excellence in Security Operations. In 2003, COLSA acquired Huntsville-based Pace and Waite, Inc., and Digital Wizards, Inc. Among COLSA’s are NASA, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Defense Intelligence Agency and the Missile Defense Agency.

Under Collazo's leadership the company's growth includes regional offices in Washington, DC; Orlando, Florida; Shalimar, Florida; San Diego, California, Colorado Springs, Colorado and Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Collazo Enterprises, Inc.
On January 2, 1996, Collazo incorporated Collazo Enterprises the primary holding company that owns all stock in COLSA Corporation, COLSA International, FJC Growth Capital, and FCA Properties. In 2000, Collazo Enterprises, Inc. established the Francisco J. Collazo (COLSA) Scholarship at the University of Alabama. The scholarship is awarded to full-time students majoring in Engineering, Science, Mathematics, or Technology and is based on academic merit, leadership potential, and contributions to school and community.

Personal
Collazo, who together with his wife has three children and seven grandchildren, continues to reside in Huntsville. He continues to be the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of COLSA Corporation. In May 2003, he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. On October 25, 2012, COLSA Corp. was recognized by Hispanic Business Magazine as being one of the top 100 Hispanic Businesses in the United States.

Military awards and decorations
Among Collazo 's decorations are the following:
 * [[Image:Bronze Star ribbon.svg|60px]] Bronze Star Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
 * Meritorious Service ribbon.svg Meritorious Service Medal
 * National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg National Defense Service Medal (with 1 bronze Service Star)
 * Vietnam Service Ribbon.svg Vietnam Service Medal (with 4 bronze Service Stars)
 * Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon.png Vietnam Campaign Medal