Brig. Gen. H. Michael Edwards has been nominated by Gov. Bill Ritter to be the new adjutant general and executive director of the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

If confirmed by the State Senate, Edwards will replace retiring Maj. Gen. Mason Whitney on March 24.

Edwards, 55, has served since 2002 as commander of the 140th Wing, Colorado Air National Guard, at Buckley Air Force Base, supervising the combat readiness of more than 1,400 personnel. He a 34-year military veteran and graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1973. He joined the Colorado Air National Guard in 1980.