Career Timeline of Doug Collins (politician): Major Achievements and Milestones

How Doug Collins (politician) built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Doug Collins is an American lawyer, politician, and Air Force veteran. A Republican, he served as the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 9th congressional district (2013-2021) after serving in the Georgia House of Representatives (2007-2013). He is also a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, achieving the rank of colonel. Collins currently serves as the 12th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs since 2025.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1994: Senior Pastor at Chicopee Baptist Church

From 1994, Doug Collins was a senior pastor at Chicopee Baptist Church while co-owning a retail scrapbooking store with his wife, Lisa.

2002: Served as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve

In 2002, Doug Collins began serving as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

2005: Ended position as Senior Pastor

Until 2005, Doug Collins was a senior pastor at Chicopee Baptist Church while co-owning a retail scrapbooking store with his wife, Lisa.

2007: Elected to Georgia House of Representatives

In 2007, Doug Collins began representing Georgia's 27th district in the Georgia House of Representatives.

2008: Unopposed Reelection

In 2008, Doug Collins ran unopposed for reelection in the Georgia House of Representatives.

2008: Deployed to Balad Air Base during Iraq War

In 2008, as a member of the 94th Airlift Wing, Doug Collins was deployed to Balad Air Base for five months during the Iraq War.

2010: Unopposed Reelection

In 2010, Doug Collins ran unopposed for reelection in the Georgia House of Representatives.

2010: Managing Partner at Collins and Csider law firm

Since 2010, Doug Collins has worked as a lawyer and has been a managing partner at the Collins and Csider law firm.

2011: Sponsored HOPE Scholarship reform

In 2011, Doug Collins sponsored a plan to reform Georgia's HOPE Scholarship program, cutting scholarships by 10% and raising requirements, saving the state $300 million.

2011: Administrative Floor Leader for Governor Deal

In 2011, Doug Collins was one of three administrative floor leaders for Georgia governor Nathan Deal.

August 21, 2012: Defeated Zoller in runoff election

On August 21, 2012, Doug Collins defeated Martha Zoller in the Republican primary runoff election with 55 percent of the vote.

2012: Ran for Congress in the 9th district

In 2012, Doug Collins ran for Congress in the redrawn 9th congressional district after Tom Graves ran for the 14th district.

2012: Pledged against global warming legislation

In 2012, Doug Collins signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity promising to vote against any global warming-related legislation that would raise taxes.

2012: Supported amending Georgia's constitution for charter schools

In 2012, Doug Collins supported amending Georgia's constitution to establish a statewide commission authorizing and expanding charter schools.

2012: Administrative Floor Leader for Governor Deal

In 2012, Doug Collins was one of three administrative floor leaders for Georgia governor Nathan Deal.

2013: Elected as U.S. Representative

In 2013, Doug Collins became the U.S. representative for Georgia's 9th congressional district.

2013: End of Term in Georgia House of Representatives

In 2013, Doug Collins concluded his service in the Georgia House of Representatives, representing Georgia's 27th district.

2013: Voted against Violence Against Women Act

In 2013, Doug Collins voted against the Violence Against Women Act.

2016: Ran Unopposed

In 2016, Doug Collins ran unopposed in the election.

2017: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

In 2017, Collins said the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 would not result in anyone losing health coverage.

2017: Supported Trump's executive order on immigration

In 2017, Doug Collins supported President Donald Trump's executive order imposing a temporary ban on entry to the U.S. for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.

2017: Voted in favor of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

In 2017, Doug Collins voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, stating it would encourage business and strengthen communities.

2018: Defeated Josh McCall in election

In 2018, Doug Collins defeated Democratic challenger Josh McCall with 79.6% of the vote.

2019: Voted against the Equality Act

In 2019, Doug Collins voted against the Equality Act, which aimed to expand the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

January 2020: Announced candidacy for U.S. Senate

In January 2020, Doug Collins announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in the special election held in November 2020.

January 2020: Comments on Lou Dobbs Tonight regarding Soleimani's killing

In January 2020, following the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, Doug Collins stated on Lou Dobbs Tonight that Democrats were "in love with terrorists". After facing criticism, including a response from Senator Tammy Duckworth, Collins apologized for his comments on Twitter.

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January 29, 2020: Announced run for U.S. Senate seat

On January 29, 2020, Doug Collins announced his candidacy for Georgia's Class III U.S. Senate seat in the November 2020 special election.

November 2020: Finished third in Senate election

In November 2020, Doug Collins finished in third place in the special election for Georgia's Class III U.S. Senate seat, behind Raphael Warnock and Kelly Loeffler.

November 2020: Competed in Special Election

In November 2020, Doug Collins ran in the special election for the United States Senate.

2020: Campained with Roger Stone

In 2020, during his bid for the Georgia Senate seat, Doug Collins campaigned with Roger Stone, a Trump associate and convicted criminal.

January 2021: Potential Runoff Election

In January 2021, Doug Collins could have potentially participated in a runoff election, had no candidate earned over 50% of the vote in a prior election.

April 2021: Declined to run in Georgia elections

In April 2021, Doug Collins announced he would not run in Georgia's 2022 gubernatorial or Senate elections.

2021: End of Term as U.S. Representative

In 2021, Doug Collins's term as the U.S. representative for Georgia's 9th congressional district concluded.

2022: No run for office

In 2022, Doug Collins did not run in either the gubernatorial election or concurrent Senate election in Georgia, as he stated in April 2021.

2023: Promoted to Colonel

In 2023, Doug Collins was promoted to colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

November 14, 2024: Nomination for Secretary of Veterans Affairs

On November 14, 2024, President-elect Trump announced his intention to nominate Doug Collins as the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

November 2024: Intended Nomination for Secretary of Veterans Affairs

In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Doug Collins to serve as the next United States secretary of veterans affairs.

January 21, 2025: Appeared before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs

On January 21, 2025, Doug Collins appeared before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs regarding his nomination for United States secretary of veterans affairs.