Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie has appointed a new deputy director for the Department of Health.

The Governor’s Office said yesterday that Keith Yamamoto was appointed first deputy director. He has served as an administrator in the Health Department’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division. He previously served as the children and youth program development officer in the Office of Youth Services-Program Development.

Yamamoto is state certified as a substance abuse program administrator. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Hawaii and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Northern Colorado.