Syracuse University announced Friday that Robert Maldonado has been appointed as the university’s chief of public safety. Maldonado will replace Jill Lentz, who has served as the interim chief since January.

Maldonado has served as director of campus safety at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York since 2006. He will officially start his new role on July 27, according to an SU News release. The appointment was made by Senior Vice President and Chief Law Enforcement Officer Tony Callisto, according to the release.

“(Maldonado’s) documented performance and success will be an incredible asset to our outstanding team and I am confident he will serve the students, faculty and staff of our campus community with energy and professionalism,” Callisto said in the release.

Maldonado was one of two candidates that were being considered for the position, according to a May 26 SU News release. The other candidate, Michael Bailey, is currently the chief of police at SUNY Purchase College.

In more than 30 years of experience, Maldonado has worked as a captain of the New York State Police Department’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations, the deputy chief of police and operations at the Rochester Police Department and a jail bureau superintendent at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, according to the release.

“I am honored and grateful to have been selected to serve as the University’s next chief, and look forward to joining the community of students, faculty and staff,” Maldonado said in the release.