31°

Gov. Sarah Palin has named Doyon security chief and 24-year law enforcement veteran Joseph Masters as her new public safety commissioner.

Masters spent 20 years with the Department of Public Safety, including work supervising trooper recruitment and training. He was deputy director of the Alaska State Troopers from June 2003 through May 2005 and a commander in the state fish and wildlife protection division.

He is currently the security director of Doyon Universal Services, an affiliate of the Interior Alaska Native corporation Doyon, and an affiliate professor at University of Alaska Southeast.

Masters' appointment is the product of a six week search by a six member review committee.

That's in contrast to Palin's appointment of former Kenai police chief Chuck Kopp, whose hire was announced three days after her controversial firing of former Commissioner Walt Monegan.

Kopp resigned July 25 after 10 days on the job when a reprimand from a sexual harassment claim against him came to light.