DOVER — Gov. John Carney announced Thursday he has selected Sandy Johnson as the acting secretary of the new Department of Human Resources.

Ms. Johnson served as director of the Delaware State Housing Authority from 2000 to 2009 and has been the executive director of the Camden, N.J., Redevelopment Agency since then.

She will be nominated as secretary when the Senate reconvenes. The chamber is not scheduled to meet again until January but may need to meet sooner to confirm judicial selections.

The Department of Human Resources was created earlier this month through legislation.

“I know Sandy well, and believe she has the right mix of experience, leadership skills, and thoughtfulness to help us get this department off the ground, and make a real difference for state employees,” Gov. Carney said in a statement.

Sandy Johnson

“This new department will tackle issues important to our employees, and will help us operate more efficiently across state agencies. I’m confident that Sandy is the right person for the job. Thank you to members of the General Assembly for their leadership in helping create this agency to focus attention and resources on state government’s most important asset — our employees.”

Eight of the 16 current cabinet secretaries serving under Gov. Carney held cabinet posts under former Govs. Jack Markell or Ruth Ann Minner.

Staff writer Matt Bittle can be reached at 741-8250 or mbittle@newszap.com. Follow @MatthewCBittle on Twitter.