OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma National Guardsman who previously served as a state lawmaker is being promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
A promotion ceremony for Col. Hopper Smith will be held at the state Capitol on Tuesday, and Gov. Mary Fallin will join Smith's wife in a ceremonial "pinning" of Smith to the rank of brigadier general.
Smith was mobilized with the 45th Infantry Brigade and deployed to Afghanistan in 2003. He was mobilized again in 2011 and served as a combat advisor to the Afghan National Army as part of the mobilization with the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
A Republican, Smith was elected four times to the House District 67 seat in Tulsa, but resigned in 2003 due to deployment to Afghanistan.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.