BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The Kern County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, appointed Matt Constantine as Director of Public Health Services effective immediately.

Constantine had served as Interim Director since August 2009.

Before his Interim appointment in August, Constantine led the Kern County Environmental Health Services (EHS) Department, where he headed the Department’s Animal Control Services Division, launched the County’s restaurant health grading system, and initiated enforcement efforts against entities that illegally dumped and stockpiled hazardous materials, according to the Kern County Admin. office.

As Interim Public Health Services Director, Constantine has supervised the launch of the County’s intensive H1N1 flu education and prevention program and initial administration of H1N1 flu vaccines, according to the KCAO.

“Matt Constantine has ably directed the County’s efforts to educate and protect Kern County from H1N1 flu while moving forward on several other important initiatives,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jon McQuiston said. “The Board is very pleased to appoint him as permanent Director so he can continue to lead these efforts and other programs that are critical to the health of our community,”

Constantine earned Bachelor and Master degrees of Science from California State University, Northridge, graduating with distinction. Prior to his County assignments, he worked with the Indian Health Service in Arizona and the California Air Resources Board in southern California.

Constantine and his family reside in Bakersfield.