A new person is taking over leadership of Cloud County Community College.

According to the school, the Cloud County Community College Board of Trustees extended an offer to Dr. Mark Smith to become the institution’s seventh president. The board voted unanimously to hire Smith at Tuesday night’s meeting. He will begin work on February 1, 2017.

Smith is currently the vice president for educational services at Temple College in Temple, Texas. At Temple, he also served as associate vice president for distance education, a position he held for four years. Prior to his tenure at Temple, he was Director of Student Affairs and Distance Learning at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Smith also served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force in various roles related to radio and computer systems.

Smith has a Ph.D. from Cappella University, and a bachelor’s and master’s in business administration from William Carey College. He also has three associates degrees – an AS in electronic systems technology and an AS in instruction of technology and military science from the Community College of the Air Force, and an AS in technology from Fort Steilacoom Community College (Pierce College.)

Smith will replace Danette Toone, who announced her resignation in August. She has been president since July 2010.