A new Permanent Secretary has been appointed to the Ministry of Health and Family Services bringing with him more than 20 years experience in Government service.

Kevin Monkman, who has held the post of Director at the Transport Control Department since 2000, will take up the position on October 1 at one of Government's largest ministries.

He said he is looking forward to working with Health Minister Patrice Minors and with the 400 people employed by the Ministry.

Mr. Monkman will replace current Permanent Secretary Kenneth Joaquin.

Charles Clarke, the Manager of Administration and Registration at TCD will fill the post temporarily until a new Director is named. Government is to advertise for the position.

According to a Government press release, Mr. Monkman brings strong leadership and management skills to the job with an emphasis on customer service. He considers one of his greatest contributions at TCD to be the introduction of a comprehensive Information Technology Plan which is in the final phase of implementation.

Mr. Monkman started his Government service as a student working with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries where he developed and interest in entomology. Educated at Warwick Academy High School and the Bermuda College, Mr. Monkman graduated in 1980 from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. In 1982 he was awarded with a Masters in Plant Protection and Pest Management from the University of Georgia.

In 1982 he returned to Bermuda to work at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Parks where he worked as a Plant Protection Officer for three years.

He left Government service for a short period in 1985, returning to Agriculture, Fisheries and Parks in 1988 where he progressed to Senior Plant Protection Officer and then to Assistant Director in 1994.

Additional experiences in Government include secondments to the Ministry of Transport and the Registrar General's Office from 1998 to 2000.

Mr. Monkman enjoys golf, the open outdoors, and spending time with his wife Susan of 24 years and their two children Laurel, 23, and Jordan, 20.