TOPEKA ? A state legislator who spent a year in Iraq commanding an engineer battalion is getting a new Kansas National Guard assignment.

Col. Lee Tafanelli will assume command Saturday of the 69th Troop Command during a ceremony in Topeka. He previously was commander of the 891st Engineer Combat Battalion based in southeast Kansas, which was deployed to Iraq from 2004 to 2005.

Tafanelli is a Republican from Ozawkie and a member of the Kansas House, representing the 47th District in northeast Kansas.

Col. Vic Braden will relinquish command to Tafanelli.