A lieutenant with Nash County Sheriff’s Office was unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate to head one of three U.S. Marshal districts in North Carolina.

Scott Parker was appointed Friday as a U.S. Marshal for North Carolina’s Eastern District, which comprises of 44 Eastern North Carolina counties, including Edgecombe and Nash, and a portion of Durham County that encompasses the Federal Correctional Complex. Parker will replace current U.S. Marshal Clyde R. Cook, who was appointed by former president George W. Bush in June 2008.

A lifelong Nash County resident, Parker, 47, now serves as the Nash County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division Commander. After almost a year-long selection process, Parker said he finally received several calls from U.S. Senate offices around noon Friday, informing him of his selection.

Parker said he does not exactly know when he will start his new position or when he will leave the Nash County Sheriff’s Office. But he will continue to reside in Nash County and said he is “thankful” for the opportunity.

“I’m excited,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with the dedicated and professional employees of the U.S. Marshals Service.”

Parker’s recent appointment stems back to July 2009, when U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., recommended him to the White House. In February, President Barack Obama nominated five candidates for U.S. Marshal, including Parker.

On Thursday, Parker was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee to be the Eastern District U.S. Marshal. Hagan said during that time, that she would work with colleagues to ensure Parker was quickly confirmed by the full U.S. Senate.

She noted Parker’s extensive law enforcement career in the state as a plus.

“Parker has served North Carolina with distinction ... rising through the ranks from patrol officer to commander with a proven record of results,” Hagan said in a press release. “His commitment to North Carolina and the law enforcement community is exemplary, and I am proud to have recommended him to the President.”

U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-1st District, also said he applauded the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of the Nash County lieutenant as a U.S. Marshal, adding that Parker’s appointment would also provide some needed diversity.

“Scott Parker has a long and outstanding record in law enforcement,” Butterfield said in a press release. “I know he will bring the same passion and commitment to this new challenge, and I know the entire community is proud of him.”

Parker’s background in law enforcement stretches back to 1986, where he got his start as a volunteer police officer in Sharpsburg.

Parker later served with the Nashville Police Department from 1987 to 1989.

Parker left the area from 1989 to 1995, serving as an assistant commander with the Roanoke Chowan Narcotics Task Force in Hertford County. Since joining Nash County Sheriff’s Office in 1995, Parker has risen to the rank of lieutenant.

Other duties include serving on the Federal Bureau Investigation Safe Streets Gang Task Force for Nash County and neighboring counties. He also serves as a law enforcement instructor at Nash Community College.

So, the new level of responsibility is not a problem, Parker said, noting that he has built working relationships with neighboring law enforcement agencies over the years. He thanked congressional leaders and Obama for the nomination.

“Protecting the citizens of Eastern North Carolina is going to be a continuous thing,” he said.