It took 9 months for politicians and bureaucrats to agree on a public health boss.

The Senate confirmed a former Navy doctor as Department of Health and Environmental Control director Thursday.

The agency’s board picked Dr. Edward Simmer, 56, in December after a nationwide search to replace Rick Toomey who resigned last May.

Simmer told senators DH-EC’s vaccine roll out could have been done more effectively and pledged to improve that.

He said DHEC erred in having people register for vaccinations online as many can’t do that.

He has run military hospitals and worked as chief medical officer of Tricare health insurance for military families.

He helped provide psychiatric care to sailors who survived the USS Cole terrorist bombing and as an advisor at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detention facility for terrorist suspects.

He and his wife Peggy own a home in Beaufort but plan to live in the Midlands.