Rome Police Chief Elaine Snow was named the chairman of the board for the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice during its meeting on Thursday.

Snow, who was serving as vice chairman, fills the post held by Avery Niles, who was appointed as the department’s commissioner by Gov. Nathan Deal in November 2012.

Niles commended Snow for her previous service to the board.

“I look forward to continuing a productive relationship with a first-class public servant who has devoted great time and effort to making positive changes in the lives of DJJ youth throughout this state,” Niles said.

Snow has more than 35 years of law enforcement experience ranging from investigations and crime prevention and analysis, to training, accreditation and management.

She was the juvenile officer for the Rome Police Department for seven years. That experience helped her when she was named to the board five years ago.

“When I was selected to the board I has some basic info about the system; how it operates and the process,” Snow said “I had to catch up on the current things going on.”

Snow is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Georgia Law Enforcement Command College and Leadership Rome. She is the Georgia representative and vice chair to the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Southern Working Group.

She also serves on the Open Door Home Board of Trustees, Georgia Public Safety Training Center Dalton Academy Advisory Board, and the GBI Georgia Crime Information Center Advisory Board.

Snow earned a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville State University and a master’s degree from Columbus State University. She and her husband Tommy have two grown children and four grandchildren.

Board members serve in an advisory capacity to the DJJ, providing leadership and guidance to the commissioner to help improve services provided by the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice.

“We look forward to making real changes in the lives of our young offenders helped by this smooth transition of new board leadership,” Niles said.

The board is designed for 15 members representing each Congressional district in the state. DJJ board members are appointed by the governor.