The selection of a military chaplain as Donald Trump's head of the Department of Veterans Affairs is being welcomed by US military personnel and veterans.

President-elect Trump has nominated Doug Collins, a former Southern Baptist pastor to take the role when he takes office in January.

Congressman Doug Collins has been serving as a Southern Baptist Chaplain in the Air Forces Reserves since 2002 and he was deployed to Iraq between 2008 and 2009.

Before joining the Air Force Reserves he served as a Navy chaplain for two years.

Alongside his military service, Collins was senior pastor of Chicopee Baptist Church from 1994 until 2005 and he also served as chaplain for Chattahoochee Baptist Association.

He was elected as a state representative in Georgia in 2006 and ran for - but lost - the US Senate in 2020.

Donald Trump said in a statement that Collins “will be a great advocate for our active duty Service members, veterans, and military families to ensure they have the support they need.”

His appointment is being welcomed by military personnel and veterans. The coalition Mission Roll Call said in a statement :

"We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with him, should his nomination be confirmed, to amplify the voices of veterans and their families as he takes on this critical responsibility.

"The Secretary of Veterans Affairs leads the VA in its mission to serve those who have served our country.

"Doug Collins brings a wealth of experience to this position...with his ongoing service as a U.S. Air Force Reserve chaplain, his understanding of veterans’ needs and the challenges they face. We believe his background could be instrumental in driving positive change for the veteran community, pending his confirmation.

"We’re eager to see how his potential leadership could advance initiatives that make a real impact."

Doug Collins is the holder of a Master of Divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and he and his wife Lisa are members of Lakewood Baptist Church in Gainesville.