In less than five months following his election to a state senate seat, Michael Rush (D-West Roxbury) will be deployed to Iraq, leaving his chief of staff in charge of his office, Rush said Wednesday.

The state senator, who represents West Roxbury, said he found out about his call up from the Navy Reserves to deploy to Iraq following November’s election victory.

“More recently, I got some more specific travel information, which a lot of times validates the orders. Once you get that itinerary it gets to the point of no return,” said Rush, who will be deployed for the first time in his career.

For operational security purposes, Rush said he could not give an exact timetable for his training and deployment except to say he would leave for Iraq in March.

In his eight years in state government, Rush has known of two other legislators that were deployed, Brian Golden and Harold Noughton, Jr., he said. Last month a representative from Beverly, Jerry Parisella, also received orders to ship out.

Noughton and Golden retained their offices, and Parisella has said he will do the same.

“This is not a unique situation,” Rush said. “My staff is extremely capable, extremely experienced in terms of dealing with constituent service.”

All six representatives in Rush’s district pledged their support and help through the next year, Rush said.

"Shocking, isn’t it? I was surprised when I got the phone call on Friday. I was very surprised," said State Rep. Ed Coppinger, D-West Roxbury. "(Rush) called me personally late Friday morning just to let us know. He called the reps who fall within in his district just before he sent out the press release. He said his staff would be there to assist us with anything we need while he’s gone."

Coppinger also believes that there are plenty of elected officials in the Parkway area who will serve Rush's constituents well.

"I honestly don’t think it’s going to affect me. (Rush) said he has full support of the senate president. So I have to assume that what comes to the table that will affect our district, that we will get support in the senate if it makes sense for the district or impacts the district," said Coppinger, who was just sworn in for his first term as the 10th Suffolk District representative having replaced Rush. "You have five or six state reps, not only in West Roxbury. You have Hyde Park, Norwood, and Roslindale. You also have (state representatives Jeffrey Sanchez and Russell Holmes. If it falls in the West Roxbury area you’re going to have three state reps working on it."

Rush also talked about the timing of his deployment.

“Is the timing unfortunate? Absolutely. But, I think the scenario with this team of elected officials that will be supporting my staff 100 percent of the way, there will be a minor bump in the road, if any at all,” said Rush, who has served 15 years in the Navy Reserves.

After eight years serving as a state representative for West Roxbury, Rush will spend less than three months in office to start his two-year state senate term, but stepping down from the post after his orders came was never an option.

“That never even crossed my mind,” he said.

The legislation filed this month by Rush’s office will still move through the process, he said, led by his chief of staff John Regan.

Regan is a 14-year veteran of Beacon Hill with experience dealing with budgets and constituents, Rush said.

“I am 100 percent confident that every phone call will be answered and all needs of the district will be met [in his absence],” he said. “This staff will be visible at events that effect this district.”

Regan worked as former state Rep. John Quinn as chief of staff and legislative director, and came over to Rush’s office for the current term.

“We are well prepared to take on the challenge,” said Regan, who earned a master’s degree in public administration in 2010 from Bridgewater State University.

Other state senators have stepped up and said they will file amendments and legislation as the office needs it, Regan said.

“We plan on being visible at all of the events in the district. That is our main priorities,” Regan said. “We are going to be working around the clock to get through this deployment.”

A downside of Rush’s deployment: no vote will be cast for the districts he represents, he said.

But Rush said he would keep up on what is happening in the district through talking with colleagues and local media.

“Thanks to modern technology, I will be very in tune with what’s happening in the district,” Rush said.