A longtime leader in the Iowa National Guard is officially being promoted this afternoon to a top post. Joe Lucas takes over the job with a promotion to the rank of Brigadier General. Born in Carroll, he graduated from Audubon High School and from Central College in Pella. Guard spokesman Colonel Robert King says Lucas was a pilot in the Marines until 1976, then five years later joined the Guard, serving as a pilot, training officer, and group commander on his way up through the ranks. Today’s ceremony is at the armory classroom at Camp Dodge at 3 P-M.