Harford County government is moving on to its third emergency operations manager within the past two years.

Russell Strickland was named the new manager at a press conference Thursday afternoon.

The Cecil County native has served in public safety since the 1970's when he began as a dispatcher with the Elkton Police Department.

Strickland and his family now live in Harford County, just outside Bel Air.

"I live in the county, am a part of the county and really want to build that system to its optimum," Strickland said.

Strickland has also served as a police officer at the University of Maryland Police department, a fire investigator and inspector with the Maryland State Fire Marshal, Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute employee, Maryland Emergency Management Agency employee and staff at Johns Hopkins University in the applied physics laboratory.

Strickland will replace Brian Feist who was has served in the position since January 2011. Feist replaced Ernie Crist, who served in the position for more than 20 years and retired in June 2010.

Harford County Government spokesman Bob Thomas said Feist is currently making a salary of $105,000 and Strickland's salary will be higher. Thomas did not have the exact figure available Thursday afternoon.

County executive David Craig sang Feist's praises at the conference and explained the decision to leave was all Feist's.

His last day will be August 10 and from there he will pursue a business opportunity in Cambria County, PA, said Thomas.