Associated Press - May 20, 2009 9:34 PM ET

CHICAGO (AP) - The former head of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs has been sworn in as an assistant secretary at the Veterans Affairs Department.

Former Iraq war helicopter pilot Tammy Duckworth was sworn in Wednesday at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Duckworth will direct the Office of Public Affairs and Intergovernmental Communications. Among other things, the Illinois National Guard major will oversee the VA's public affairs operations, as well as programs for homeless veterans.

Duckworth lost both her legs and partial use of 1 arm in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Iraq in 2004. She ran for Congress as a Democrat in 2006, but lost.

She has worked at the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs since 2006.

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