Milovanović was born in Požarevac, Serbia in 1881. He was commissioned in 1900 and held several staff positions during the Balkan Wars and World War I. He was promoted to brigadni đeneral in 1925, after which he served in a variety of appointments, including chief of staff of the 5th Army, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, and 2nd Deputy Chief of the General Staff. In September 1936, he was appointed to command the 2nd Army at Sarajevo.[2]