AUGUSTA – Dan White, who has served as a Sergeant in the Maine Marine Patrol since 2011 has been promoted to Lieutenant of Division I, which stretches from Kittery to the St. George River.

Lieutenant White replaces Major Rene Cloutier who served as Lieutenant from 2013 until being promoted to Major in March of this year.

As Lieutenant, White will be responsible for planning, directing, supervising and evaluating all Marine Patrol activities of the Sergeants, Officers and Specialists in the Division.

"I have had the pleasure of working with Lieutenant White for years," said Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish in a news release. "His dedication to resource work and commitment to both the Bureau and fishing industry are second to none. I am excited that he is taking on this new challenge."

Lieutenant White began his career with the Marine Patrol in 1997, serving as an Officer in Section Three in the Bristol, Bremen area for nearly fifteen years. His duties included operating patrol vessels in the mid-coast area in addition to conducting patrols by land.

In 2011, he received a promotion to Sergeant in Section Two where he supervised, trained, directed and evaluated Marine Patrol Officers and Specialists. His responsibilities also included organizing and directing search and rescue operations and overseeing and conducting investigations.

"Lieutenant White brings in-depth experience as a skilled and professional boat operator in addition to an extensive background in supervision to his new position," said Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher in a news release. "I am confident that Lieutenant White's skills and experience will serve him well in his new leadership position."

The Marine Patrol is a Bureau of the Maine Department of Marine Resource that provides law enforcement, search and rescue, public health, maritime security, and public safety services on Maine's coastal and tidal waters. For information on the Marine Patrol visit www.maine.gov/dmr/index.htm.