NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessean John Ryder has been named the new general counsel of the Republican National Committee.

RNC chairman Reince Priebus made the announcement on Thursday.

Ryder was first elected as the national committeeman from Tennessee in May 1996 and served until 2004 and also served from 2008 to the present.

He was the chairman of the redistricting committee and the RNC presidential nominating schedule committee.

Ryder is a member of the Memphis law firm Harris, Shelton, Hanover and Walsh.