John Butera will serve as the USDA Rural Development state director for Maine, replacing Rhiannon Hampson, who left the post in January for a position with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.
Butera most recently was vice president and commercial loan officer at Skowhegan Savings Bank.
Butera served two terms as senior economic advisor and commissioner of labor for Gov. Paul LePage.
The announcement was made on Monday by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.
“Rural America is the backbone of our nation, and I look forward to implementing President Trump and Secretary Rollins’ priorities in Maine, empowering communities from the ground up,” Butera said in a press release.
USDA state directors are responsible for advancing the priorities and initiatives of the presidential administration, the secretary of agriculture and the deputy under secretary for rural development.
Butera received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, and resides in Waterville.