Hawaii’s humpback whale marine sanctuary has a new superintendent.

The federal Office of National Marine Sanctuaries on Thursday said Malia Chow has been appointed to the post.

Chow has worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the past 10 years. She’s currently the sanctuary’s management plan review coordinator.

Chow was raised on Oahu. She received a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of Washington and a doctorate in cellular biology from the University of Pennsylvania.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary was created by Congress in 1992 to protect humpback whales and their habitat in Hawaii.

It’s run by NOAA and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.