TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — President-elect Donald Trump announced over the weekend he’s nominating Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister to be the next Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

“As DEA Administrator, Chad will work with our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to secure the Border, stop the flow of Fentanyl, and other Illegal Drugs, across the Southern Border, and SAVE LIVES,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Chronister has served with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for the past 32 years. He became the Sheriff in 2017.

Chronister reacted to the nomination in a statement provided to News Channel 8.

“It is the honor of a lifetime to be nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and I am deeply humbled by this opportunity to serve our nation,” he said.

Local law enforcement leaders are reacting to the news.

“I can tell you this Sheriff Chad Chronister will take DEA to the next level,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. “He will keep people safe. He will directly attack fentanyl at its core.”

Judd said someone with Chronister’s level of law enforcmenet experience is exactly what the DEA needs.

“There’s a different set of rules and regulations to run that organization, and certainly there are different laws,” Judd said. “But if you’re as experienced as he is, he’ll make that transition, he’ll take them to the next level. I know the DEA agents must be totally excited that a real cop is going to lead them.”

Former Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan has also worked with Chronister for many years and said he believes he’ll bring a fresh perspective to Washington.

“He has worked as a detective with the Drug Enforcement Administration,” Dugan said. “He knows what it’s like to be the lead of an agency and partner and work with federal agencies. He will hit the ground running. We need fresh perspectives in Washington. And I think it’s good that he’s maybe what we would consider a non-traditional candidate. He certainly has the experience. He’s led a large agency, he’s done a lot of things over his career. I think that’s what we need.”

The question now, if he is confirmed, who will be the next sheriff?

“That will ultimately be the choice of Governor DeSantis. He will make that selection and then eventually there will be an election,” said Dugan.

Dugan pointed out that the situation is similar to how Chronister was appointed to be sheriff. Governor Rick Scott appointed Chronister as sheriff back in 2017. Chronister has been re-elected twice.

“This is similar to what happened to when Chad took over when David Gee left. Chad was the sheriff for two years and then they had a special election,” Dugan said.

Trump will be sworn in Jan. 20, 2025. After that, hearings will be held in the Senate, which will vote on confirming Chronister’s appointment.