(AP) — The adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard has been named the deputy director of the U.S. Army National Guard.

Maj. Gen. Judd Lyons will assume his new role at the National Guard Headquarters in Arlington, Va., later this summer. His promotion was announced Tuesday by Gov. Dave Heineman.

The 50-year-old Lyons is Nebraska’s 32nd adjutant general. He assumed command of the Nebraska National Guard in August 2009.

The adjutant general serves as the senior uniformed officer responsible for leading nearly 4,700 Army and Air National Guard personnel in Nebraska. Lyons also is a member of the governor’s cabinet.

In his new role, Lyons will coordinate programs and policies that affect the Army National Guard and its 350,000 citizen-soldiers.