Knight Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in N.C. Guard

Quadean C. Knight also takes command of the reactivated 2nd Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, North Carolina Army National Guard.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Military Jobs

Photograph of a low brick military administrative building on a lawn beneath autumn trees in the North Carolina Piedmont, with a bare flagpole and late-afternoon light. — Quadean C. Knight was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the North Carolina Army National Guard in Raleigh on October 16, 2026, and took command of the reactivated 2nd Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Quadean C. Knight was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the North Carolina Army National Guard on October 16, 2026, at a ceremony in Raleigh. Knight is the first commander of the 2nd Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment since the unit was deactivated in 2005.

Why it matters

The promotion marks the reactivation of a battalion that had been inactive for more than two decades, restoring a command for North Carolina's Army National Guard. It also reflects the career path of an officer whose service spans active-duty, international, and state National Guard assignments.

Knight's promotion came about 21 years after the 2nd Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment was deactivated in 2005, and the unit was reactivated two days later. The source does not provide the battalion's personnel strength or planned mission.

The players

Quadean C. Knight

Knight is a career Army officer who began service with the 82nd Airborne Division in 1998 and holds a bachelor's degree in political science and history, while pursuing a Master of Public Administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

North Carolina Army National Guard

The North Carolina Army National Guard is the state-controlled reserve component of the U.S. Army in North Carolina, responsible for state and federal military missions.

The details

Knight reaffirmed his military oath during the Raleigh ceremony at the North Carolina National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters. He began his career in 1998 with the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division and later served as Bilateral Affairs Officer for Botswana at the U.S. Embassy in Gaborone before moving to the North Carolina Guard, where he now serves as J5 State Partnership Program senior strategic plans officer.

1998: Knight begins his military career with the 82nd Airborne Division.
2005: The 2nd Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment is deactivated.
October 16, 2026: Knight is promoted to lieutenant colonel in Raleigh.
October 18, 2026: The 2nd Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment is reactivated.

Military Careers

Knight's assignment as J5 State Partnership Program senior strategic plans officer ties his promotion to the U.S. Army National Guard's State Partnership Program, which pairs state Guard units with partner nations for bilateral cooperation. His earlier role as Bilateral Affairs Officer for Botswana reflects the same program's international dimension.

For service members weighing National Guard careers, Knight's path shows how a state Guard officer can move from active-duty service into staff and command roles. The reactivation also indicates that the battalion is taking new personnel and leadership assignments.

The takeaway

Knight's promotion and the battalion's reactivation show that National Guard commands can be rebuilt after long periods of inactivity. Service members considering a state Guard career can look to officers who have combined active-duty, international, and state assignments.