ORONO, Maine (AP) — President Barack Obama is tapping former University of Maine System Chancellor Joseph Westphal to serve as undersecretary of the Army.

Obama made the announcement Tuesday night.

Westphal, currently a UMaine political science professor, previously served briefly as acting secretary of the Army in 2001, and he served as assistant secretary of the Army for civil works from 1998 to 2001. In addition, he served on Obama’s transition team for the Department of Defense.

Before coming to Maine, he served in a number of high-level government positions. He most recently was provost of The New School in New York City.