NASHVILLE (AP) - Gov. Bill Haslam has named Ohio emergency operations administrator Patrick Sheehan as the new director of Tennessee's disaster response agency.

Sheehan takes over as director of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency from David Purkey, who remains assistant commissioner for homeland in the state Department of Safety after previously serving in both roles.

Haslam called Sheehan the top candidate in a nationwide search to fill the TEMA vacancy. Sheehan joined the Ohio Emergency Management Agency in 2004, as part of the finance staff.

Sheehan graduated from Kennesaw State University and pursued graduate studies in business and public administration at Ohio State University and Capital University. He was also a chemical operations specialist in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Sheehan is scheduled to start his new TEMA job on June 15.