The Ohio State Highway Patrol promoted a Mount Vernon Nazarene University graduate, Anetra D. Sims-Byrd, to the rank of staff lieutenant, the agency said.

Sims-Byrd was promoted by Col. Richard S. Fambro, Patrol superintendent. Sims-Byrd will remain in her assignment in the Office of Training, Recruitment and Diversity.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2010 and a MBA in organizational management in 2013 from Mount Vernon Nazarene.

After serving in the U.S. Army from 1993-1997, Sims-Byrd began her patrol career in April 1998 as a member of the 131st Academy Class. She earned her commission in October 1998 and was assigned to the Bucyrus Post. She also served in the Office of Criminal Investigations and the Patrol’s Training Academy before her promotion to sergeant in 2012. She remained in the Training Academy and served in the Columbus District Criminal Investigations. In 2016, she was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and transferred to the Office of Training, Recruitment and Diversity.

She received a certificate in advanced leadership training from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, Public Safety Leadership Academy in 2016.