Gov. Jan Brewer on May 5 named political consultant and career FBI agent Gilbert Orrantia as director of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security.

Prior to his appointment as homeland security director, Orrantia served as director of Atalert Investigations and Consulting, a private investigations and consulting firm. Before that, Orrantia spent 27 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, working as a special agent and supervisory special agent in Arizona, New Mexico, Tennessee and Florida. He also served on the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, and spent seven years investigating Columbian drug trafficking organizations.

Orrantia replaces Leesa Berens Morrison, who had held the post since 2006.

"I want to thank the outgoing Director, Ms. Leesa Berens Morrison, for her dedication, hard work, and efforts in helping to establish Arizona's Department of Homeland Security and for her willingness to engage in an effective transition process with the incoming Director," Brewer stated in the press release. "She has served the State of Arizona and its citizens very well, and I wish her all the best."