AUGUSTA (AP) – Craig Poulin, a state police major who joined the force 26 years ago, has been nominated to serve as chief of the 338-member agency.

Poulin, of Gardiner, will succeed Col. Michael Sperry if his nomination is confirmed by the state Senate. Sperry announced his retirement earlier this month.

The 49-year-old Poulin is now serving as one of the two majors in the state police, which he joined in 1978. He has worked extensively on key law enforcement including homeland security, gambling and communications, said Public Safety Commissioner Michael Cantara, who announced the nomination Thursday.

As head of the state police Support Services Division, Poulin currently oversees the state crime laboratory, communications, traffic division, special investigations, licensing, records management, training, special services, management information services and the state police fleet.

State law specifies that the chief must come from within the state police, said Cantara, who called Poulin “highly qualified” for the post.

Poulin previously served as head of the department’s internal affairs division, and for a decade was a member of the Executive Protection Unit guarding Govs. Joseph Brennan and John McKernan. As a young trooper Poulin patrolled Kennebec County.

Poulin graduated from the University of Maine at Augusta and the FBI National Academy. He was promoted to sergeant in 1992 and lieutenant in 1997.

AP-ES-02-19-04 1205EST