Jim Butterworth, a Republican state senator with strong ties to Middle Georgia, has been named to replace Maj. Gen. Terry Nesbitt as state Adjutant General. Gov. Nathan Deal made the announcement on Tuesday.

Butterworth spent 12 years in the U.S. Air Force and the Georgia Air National Guard including flying B-1 bombers for the Guard out of Robins Air Force Base. He has been a Delta Air Lines pilot since 1999.

Nesbitt, whose retirement will be effective in October after more than four decades of service, said Butterworth has served his state and community as both a citizen and service member.

“I know that his sterling qualities as a leader and his experience in state and local government will serve him well in his new post,” Nesbitt is quoted on the Georgia National Guard facebook page.

Butterworth, who was born in Macon but grew up in Habersham County, is a 1988 University of Georgia graduate. While at the university, he was Air Force ROTC “cadet of the year” for two of his four years. He is expected to resign his senate post Oct. 2.

The state Adjutant General commands more than 14,000 people in the Georgia Department of Defense, including the Georgia Army and Air National Guard and the Georgia State Defense Force.