President Barack Obama has picked a Mississippi Department of Public Safety employee for a U.S. marshal post.

The White House said Thursday that Obama had nominated George White to be U.S. marshal for the Southern District of Mississippi.

If confirmed by the Senate, White would succeed Nehemiah Flowers Jr.

Flowers, a former aide to Republican U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001.

White is the director of the Commercial Driver’s License Division of the Department of Public Safety. He has been with DPS since 1980, serving in several roles including as director of the Driver Records Division and as a state trooper.