PORT ORCHARD — Eric Gattenby, a 22-year U.S. Navy veteran, was selected by the South Kitsap School District board of directors as the new District 1 director.

Gattenby was selected from a field of five applicants to fill the vacancy created with the resignation of Seward Stevens in June. He will serve up to the next regularly scheduled school board election in the summer and fall of 2019.

The school board met Aug. 8 to interview applicants for the District 1 seat.

The newly appointed director has 30 years of experience in organizational leadership, the school district said in a news release. The Navy veteran also comes to the new position with eight years in government civil service. Gattenby served on the board of directors for Central Kitsap Foodbank from 2015-2018.

Gattenby has two daughters who attend South Kitsap school.

“I am honored and humbled to have been selected from a very competitive field of candidates,” Gattenby said in the release. “I look forward to serving our community in ensuring the best possible education for our students.”

The new director will take the oath of office at the board’s next scheduled meeting on Sept. 5.