WASHINGTON — Tammy Duckworth, a disabled Iraq war veteran who graduated from McKinley High School and the University of Hawaii-Manoa, was nominated by President Barack Obama today to serve as assistant secretary of public and intergovernmental affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Duckworth, currently director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, is a major in the state National Guard and lost both legs and partial use of an arm in 2004 when a rocket-propelled grenade hit the Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting.

"President Obama has made a fine choice," said Sen. Dan Akaka, D-Hawaii, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. "She is a rising star and a source of inspiration for the newest generation of veterans."

Duckworth could have her confirmation hearing before the committee by the end of the month.

VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki, a Kauai native who become the Army's first four-star general of Japanese-American ancestry, said that good communications with veterans and their supporters is key to improving the agency's services and ensuring veterans receive them.

"Tammy Duckworth brings significant talent, leadership and personal experience to this important work," said Shinseki, who served two tours in Vietnam and was twice wounded.

As an assistant secretary, Duckworth would direct the VA's public affairs, internal communications and intergovernmental relations. She also will oversee programs for homeless veterans, consumer affairs and special rehabilitative events.

Duckworth testified before Congress in 2005 about her experiences and the need for the VA to find new ways to deal the increase in very seriously wounded soldiers coming from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.