FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine (AP) The new U.S. Border Patrol chief for Maine’s border with Canada is a veteran of the agency who has also served on the border with Mexico.

William Maddocks was officially sworn in as the new chief patrol officer of the Houlton sector during a Tuesday ceremony, the Bangor Daily News reported. The sector’s previous chief had been Jason Owens, who is slated to be transferred to Washington, D.C., to instruct incoming border agents.

Maddocks has served in the border patrol since 1997 and has made stops in the Rio Grande Valley and Yuma, Arizona. He also had a previous assignment in Houlton, including serving as patrol agent in charge of the station.

Maddocks said his focus will be on protecting the state’s border from illegal entry and smuggling as well as providing support operations to the southwest border with Mexico.