ALFRED — Arthur “Art” Cleaves was named York County Emergency Management director Wednesday by a unanimous vote of York County Commissioners.

His name is synonymous with emergency management. Cleaves, who spent 30 years with the Maine Army National Guard, retiring as a colonel, also directed the Maine Emergency Management Agency and the state’s Homeland Security office for a time.

He was named administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s New England region in 2005, and oversaw 34 major disaster declarations, including the Patriot’s Day Storm in 2007 and the 2008 ice storm, according to his resume.

He worked in Haiti after the earthquake and serves as a liaison for FEMA and the State Hurricane Sandy Recovery Office in Queens, New York, where he has been coordinating recovery operations for the New York Office of Emergency Management.

County commissioners say they’re delighted to have Cleaves aboard.

“We’re glad you accepted” the job, said Commissioner Michael Cote.

County Manager Greg Zinser said he’s looking forward to working with Cleaves. He said Cleaves will be an asset not only to EMA but to the county as a whole.

“He has the drive to get the job done,” Zinser said.

Cleaves, for his part, said he’s been “lucky” in his career, working at many levels of government.

“County and local is where you get to apply” what you’ve learned, he said.

Cleaves coordinated the National Guard’s logistics and maintenance response and recovery operations during the ice storm of 1998 that devastated much of the state. He’s earned the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Award and the Army Commendation medal.

Cleaves starts his job in York County Jan. 5.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.