Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Wednesday appointed Cameron Smith as the director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, the parent agency of the Workers' Compensation Division and Board.

Cameron Smith

If confirmed by the Senate, Smith will replace Patrick Allen, who left DCBS in August to become the director of the Oregon Health Authority.

Smith is now director of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, a position he has held since 2013. From 2009 to 2013, Smith served as senior policy adviser to Govs. John Kitzhaber and Ted Kulongoski, managing a portfolio that covered both veterans’ affairs and public safety issues.

Before state government, Smith served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a captain, completing three tours of duty in Iraq. He is a graduate of Carleton College in Minnesota.

Smith’s first day as DCBS director is Dec. 21.