Edward Poolos, deputy commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, will be the new director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

The Alabama Environmental Management Commission chose Poolos Friday to replace Lance LeFleur, who retired last month, according to a press release from the agency.

Poolos has been deputy commissioner at conservation under Commissioner Chris Blankenship for eight years and previously worked for ADEM for 25 years. He served 17 years as a manager in ADEM’s field office in Decatur.

“I am extremely grateful for Commissioner Blankenship and Gov. (Kay) Ivey for putting their trust in me in helping lead the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. I learned a lot,” Poolos said in a written statement announcing his new job.

“ADEM and ADCNR have two big things in common — serving the people and protecting the

environment. “I really look forward to returning to ADEM. I know the Department well — its dedicated staff and its mission. 

The commission evaluated 10 applications and interviewed four finalists, according to the press release. The others were Anthony Scott Hughes, chief of the Field Operations Division at ADEM; David A. Perry, former chief of staff and state finance director for Gov. Robert Bentley; and James “Mike” Thornton, director of Coffee County Environmental Services.

“I am 100 percent invested in making the department better, safeguarding the environment and protecting the health and well-being of all Alabamians,” Poolos said.