Rome City Manager John Bennett announced Thursday he is appointing Maj. Elaine Snow as the city’s new police chief.

Snow, who would be the first woman to head the force, also broke ground when she was hired in 1973 as its first female officer.

Bennett said there was “significant interest, both internally and externally” in the position.

The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Rome City Commission at its Tuesday meeting, and he declined to comment further pending his presentation to the board.

Snow would replace Hubert Smith, who retired July 2 after 43 years with the department, 19 of them as chief. Deputy Chief Lonzo Roberson, who is planning to retire next year, has been serving as interim chief.

“Elaine came up through the ranks and did a lot of preparing for this,” Smith said. “She’s very well-qualified, a good and dedicated employee, and I think she’ll do a good job.”

Smith and his wife were in Montana on Thursday, approaching Glacier National Park, but he said Bennett called him Wednesday with his choice.

“I want to commend him and the commissioners for staying within the department,” Smith said. “That’s sending the right message to your officers who have sacrificed to become qualified for the job.”

Snow is a graduate of Coosa High School, Jacksonville State University and the FBI National Academy. She was elected in 1996 as the first woman president of the Academy’s state chapter.

She also has served on the Open Door Home board of trustees, the Northwest Georgia Police Academy advisory board, the Georgia Police Officer Standards and Training Council, the Georgia Crime Information Center advisory board and as the state’s representative to the federal Criminal Justice Information Services Southern Working Group.