President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday said he will nominate an Air Force Reserve Command chaplain and veteran of the Iraq War to serve as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Trump announced his selection of former Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) in a post on Truth Social.
“Doug is a Veteran himself, who currently serves our Nation as a Chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command, and fought for our Country in the Iraq War,” Trump wrote. “We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need. Thank you Doug for your willingness to serve our country in this very important role.”
Collins, 58, served in Congress from 2013 to 2021, representing Georgia’s 9th District. While in the House, he sat on the Judiciary Committee and committees for Appropriations, Public Safety & Homeland Security and Defense and Veterans Affairs.
Collins defended Trump during his first impeachment while serving in the House. He ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2020.
He has been a member of the Air Force Reserve since 2002 and holds the rank of colonel. Collins deployed to Iraq in 2008 as a member of the 94th Airlift Wing to Balad Air Force Base for five months. He served as a U.S. Navy chaplain for two years in the late 1980s before joining the Air Force reserves as a chaplain after the 9/11 attacks.
Following Trump’s announcement, Collins wrote on social media that he was honored to accept the nomination.
“Our heroes deserve the best care and support,” he said “We’ll fight tirelessly to streamline and cut regulations in the VA, root our corruption, and ensure every veteran receives the benefits they’ve earned.
“Together, we’ll make the VA work for those who fought for us. Time to deliver for our veterans and give them the world-class care they deserve.”
Collins’ nomination must be approved by the Senate. Denis McDonough currently serves as VA Secretary.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.