Iowan to RNC staff

Gentry Collins, a familiar name in Iowa Republican circles, is going to work for Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele. Collins has worked in a variety of political jobs. I believe I first met Collins when he worked as a legislative aide to State Representative Christopher Rants who, at the time, was the House Majoirty Leader.  Collins served as campaign manager for Doug Gross, the GOP's 2002 gubernatorial nominee. He helped manage Mitt Romney's 2008 Iowa Caucus campaign and he worked for John McCain in the 2008 general election. Read the RNC news release below about his latest job.

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele continued to fill key staff positions by announcing the selection of Gentry Collins as the RNC’s Political Director.  

“I am thrilled to announce the addition of Gentry to the RNC team. He brings with him a proven record of success at building broad bases of grassroots and volunteer coalitions,” Steele said.  “Our primary task at the RNC is to grow our party and elect more Republicans and this appointment allows us to take another step towards those goals.”

Gentry most recently served as the Midwestern Regional Campaign manager for McCain-Palin 2008 where he recruited a record setting volunteer organization that made more voter contacts than any Republican nominee in history.  He also served in the positions of National Political Director for the Republican Governors Association, Executive Director and Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, and was an assistant to then House Majority Leader Dick Armey.

Gentry, originally from Iowa, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.