ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Gov. Martin O’Malley has appointed a new director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency.

O’Malley announced the appointment of Kenneth Mallette on Wednesday.

Mallette will begin his new job on May 21.

The O’Malley administration says Mallette has more than 35 years of first responder and executive-level management experience in the public and private sector.

He was vice president of preparedness services for Witt Associates, a D.C.-based crisis and risk management firm headed by former FEMA Director James Witt.

He also served as chief of the Emergency Management Bureau and Executive Officer in the Homeland Security Branch in New Jersey.

He will be replacing Richard Muth. A spokeswoman for O’Malley says Muth wanted to transition out of his current role. The administration is talking with him about other opportunities.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)