COLUMBUS — Trooper Nicholas A. Lunsford was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Wednesday by Colonel David W. Dicken, patrol superintendent, during a ceremony at the Patrol’s Academy. Sgt. Lunsford will transfer from his current assignment at the Gallipolis Post to serve as an assistant post commander at the Ironton Post.

Sgt. Lunsford began his patrol career in September 2000 as a member of the 136th Academy Class. He earned his commission in March 2001 and was assigned to the Gallipolis Post, where he earned the Criminal Patrol Award in 2004, 2005, and 2009, and was named Post Trooper of the Year by his peers in 2008.

Sgt. Lunsford earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in law enforcement technologies from Ohio University in 2000 and currently resides in Waterloo.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is an internationally accredited agency whose mission is to protect life and property, promote traffic safety and provide professional public safety services with respect, compassion, and unbiased professionalism.