Doraville Police Chief John King has been promoted to major general in the Georgia National Guard and has taken command of a military unit that coordinates responses to natural disasters.

A veteran of the wars in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, King, 53, is now in charge of Task Force 51, Army North’s contingency command post. King previously commanded the Georgia National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

“I never forget this is not about me. This is about our country and our citizens, whom we serve and protect,” King said at a ceremony Friday marking his promotion to two-star general. “I know service to this nation is indeed a privilege and I don’t take it lightly.”

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Reginald Neal, who was recently promoted to brigadier general, is replacing King as the Georgia National Guard’s director of the joint staff.