History of Doug Collins (politician) in Timeline

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.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

August 16, 1966: Birth of Douglas Allen Collins

On August 16, 1966, Douglas Allen Collins was born.

1988: Marriage to Lisa Jordan

In 1988, Doug Collins married Lisa Jordan, who later became a fifth-grade teacher. They have three children and reside in Gainesville, Georgia.

1988: Received BA in Political Science and Criminal Law

In 1988, Doug Collins received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and criminal law from North Georgia College & State University.

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.

1996: Received Master of Divinity

In 1996, Doug Collins received his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

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: Recording of Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women being released

In 2005, Doug Collins did not publicly comment on sexual misconduct accusations against Trump in the wake of the 2005 recording of Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women being released.

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.

2007: Earned Juris Doctor

In 2007, Doug Collins earned his Juris Doctor from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School.

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.

2012: Received 100% from American Conservative Union

In 2012, the American Conservative Union gave Doug Collins a 100% rating for his performance in the Georgia State legislature.

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.

2015: Opposed same-sex marriage

In 2015, Doug Collins expressed his opposition to same-sex marriage, supported a constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman, and co-sponsored the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act and the State Marriage Defense Act.

2016: Russian interference

In 2016, Doug Collins opening statement during Robert Mueller's testimony to Congress regarding Trump's alleged involvement with Russian interference in the 2016 election, Collins said, "We will need to... ensure that government intelligence and law enforcement powers are never again used and turned on a private citizen or a political candidate as a result of the political leanings.

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.

2017: Received 91% from American Conservative Union

In 2017, the American Conservative Union gave Doug Collins a 91% evaluation.

2018: Defeated Josh McCall in election

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

October 31, 2019: Called impeachment hearings a sham

On October 31, 2019, Doug Collins stated that the impeachment hearings against Trump were a "sham".

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.

September 2020: Comment on Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death

In September 2020, following the death of Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Doug Collins expressed his views on abortion laws via Twitter.

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.

December 2020: Signed amicus brief supporting Texas v. Pennsylvania

In December 2020, Doug Collins was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives who signed an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election.

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.

February 4, 2025: Confirmed as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

On February 4, 2025, Doug Collins was confirmed by the United States Senate as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by a vote of 77–23.

February 5, 2025: Sworn in as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

On February 5, 2025, Doug Collins was sworn into office as the 12th Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

March 5, 2025: Announcement of job cuts in the department

On March 5, 2025, Doug Collins announced that 72,000 jobs would be cut from the department.

2025: Became Secretary of Veterans Affairs

In 2025, Doug Collins became the 12th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

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