Forsyth County’s fire chief has been tapped to serve on the board of the Georgia Department of Public Safety.

The appointment of Danny Bowman was announced Friday by Gov. Nathan Deal.

In a statement, Bowman said he was "deeply honored and humbled that the governor trusts me with this appointment.”

“I promise the citizens of Forsyth County that I will represent them well as a member of the Georgia Board of Public Safety," he said.

The mission of the state public safety department is to work with all levels of government to provide a safe environment for residents and visitors.

The department focuses on enforcing traffic laws and investigating wrecks, but also supports public safety agencies as they work to lower crime and respond to natural and manmade disasters.

County Manager Doug Derrer praised Bowman for doing “an outstanding job of leading” the local fire department.

“His service on the [state board] will no doubt be a tremendous asset to public safety matters statewide,” Derrer said in a statement.

Bowman began his career as a firefighter with the Atlanta Fire Department in 1968.

He eventually served in the chief administrator capacity for the newly formed Fulton County Fire Department and later as its deputy fire chief, interim fire chief and battalion chief.

He joined Forsyth’s fire department as division fire chief in 2001 and was promoted to assistant fire chief and emergency management director in 2002. He has served as chief since July 2003.

The Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs named Bowman the state’s fire chief of the year in 2010.