Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi announced Thursday that Hawaii Army National Guard Col. Benedict Fuata has been named Civil Defense administrator for the county.

The 50-year old has served as commander of the Army Aviation Support Facility in Hilo since 1993, and is also the Guard’s logistics director.

Fuata, a resident of Mountain View, will replace Quince Mento, who retired Dec. 1.

He will assume the role in the coming weeks, and will take the reins from acting administrator John Drummond.

Kenoi said Fuata was chosen from a pool of outstanding finalists, and he has “impressive credentials, both professionally and as a public servant.”