The warden of Halawa Correctional Facility was chosen yesterday by Gov. Linda Lingle as interim director of the state Department of Public Safety.

Clayton Frank, who has served with the department for nearly 26 years, will start immediately and will likely be considered for confirmation by the state Senate next January.

Frank replaces Iwalani White, who failed to win Senate confirmation in this year's session after eight months as interim director. Lingle, who was disappointed by the rejection of White and Peter Young as director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, said the way the Senate has handled the confirmation process influenced her decision to pick the experienced Frank.

Lingle said Frank has a "long and extensive knowledge of the department. The fact that he could hit the ground running from the very first day, that really was a factor I considered. But I also considered how people in the department felt about him," she said. "I think they will welcome this choice and this decision. I think they'll be willing to follow him, and we can move swiftly to get PSD back on track."

Frank said his immediate focus would be on the department's budget, staff morale and community safety. "I'm only as good as the people that I have working with me," he said.

Lingle said her administration and the Senate share responsibility for what she described as a "revolving door" of leadership at the department in recent years.

State Sen. Will Espero, D-20th ('Ewa Beach, Waipahu), chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee, said he had spoken with Frank about the director's job after hearing from several people within the department. "His experience will be a big plus compared to Iwalani, who didn't have any (prison) experience," he said.

Frank, who also was warden at O'ahu Community Correctional Center and acting warden at Waiawa Correctional Facility, has a master's degree in social work and a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Hawai'i-Manoa.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.