Grants Pass will soon have a new public safety director. Warren Hensman of the Ashland Police Department was named to the post on Wednesday.

He and two other candidates were finalists to replace Bill Landis, who is retiring. Hensman and the other applicants were interviewed and introduced to the public in early December.

Hensman has served Ashland since 2010 and has been the deputy police chief there since 2015. He was previously a detective in Las Vegas, Nevada, and a patrol officer in Alpharetta, Georgia — a northern suburb of Atlanta — at the beginning of his career.

He holds an associate degree in criminal justice from Community College of Southern Nevada, a bachelor’s degree in public administration in law enforcement from Nevada State College, and a master’s degree in justice management from the University of Nevada.

A native of Dublin, Ireland, he also served in the U.S. Air Force.

In an interview Wednesday afternoon, Hensman said he was “humbled and excited.”

“I look forward to the Grants Pass Public Safety team,” he said, adding that his experience will come in handy. “I think I have a diverse background and look forward to tackling the challenges within Grants Pass.”

Hensman’s first day on the job will be Feb. 11.