Jocko Podcast 507: Leadership and Accountability at the VA. With Secretary Doug Collins
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Sep 24, 2025 
Doug Collins, former U.S. Representative and Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shares insights from his multifaceted career spanning military service, law, and politics. He discusses the challenging dynamics of leadership, especially within the VA, emphasizing accountability and veteran-centric reforms. Collins reflects on the harsh realities of 'full-contact politics' and offers anecdotes from his time as a military chaplain. His mission to shift perceptions of veterans from victims to warriors highlights the urgency of better care and services for those who served.
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Late-Career Pivot Driven By Family Support
- Doug Collins left full-time ministry and later went to law school at 38 while supporting a family, showing a major mid-career pivot.
- His wife Lisa pushed him to act and they sacrificed financially to make the transition work.
Chaplain Duty At Balad And Frontline Support
- Collins served as a nighttime chaplain at Balad Air Base after the surge and ran across flight lines to support troops.
- He built close relationships with service members and provided confidential counseling in high-stress conditions.
The Soldier Who Brought A Baby On Deployment
- Collins recounts an Army soldier who deployed with a six-month-old baby and still pushed to stay with his unit.
- Collins visited him often, watched videos of the child, and they both cried in the desert — a vivid human moment.
