Rene Cloutier, a 21-year veteran of the Maine Marine Patrol, has been promoted to major.

“Major Cloutier has earned the respect of everyone who has worked with him, from fishermen to his colleagues in law enforcement and state government,” said Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish. “He has a wealth of resource experience and knowledge as well as a common sense approach that will serve him well in this new leadership position.”

As major, Cloutier will serve as second-in-command to Colonel Cornish who was the marine patrol major from 2013 until being promoted to colonel in January, 2015.

“Major Cloutier is a seasoned Marine Patrol professional who has consistently set a high standard of excellence for himself and those around him throughout his career,” said Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher. "Rene has a deep passion to protect the resource while also ensuring a strong relationship with the industry. This has been a major asset for both enforcement and resource management.”

Major Cloutier’s responsibilities include operational field command, as well as planning, coordinating, assigning, and overseeing Marine Patrol enforcement activities.

He will also serve as the Marine Patrol’s representative for the National Association of Boating Law Administrators, coordinate responses to requests by other agencies, and represent the Marine Patrol on homeland security and other emergency preparedness issues.

Prior to his promotion, Cloutier served two years as lieutenant in Division I, which stretches from the New Hampshire border to the St. George River. As lieutenant, Cloutier was responsible for planning, directing, supervising and evaluating all Marine Patrol activities of the 16 sergeants, officers and specialists in the Division.

Cloutier also served seven years as a Marine Patrol sergeant based in West Boothbay Harbor where he supervised five Marine Patrol officers and one boat specialist. He was also responsible for the investigation and successful prosecution of numerous violations of lobster fishery laws.

Major Cloutier began his career in the Maine Marine Patrol in 1994, serving for seven years as a Marine Patrol officer in Friendship before being promoted to specialist and working out of Rockland for five years. His duties included operation and maintenance of the 46-foot Patrol vessel Guardian.

“Major Cloutier has held every position within Patrol and found success at each level,” said Colonel Cornish. “I’m confident that he will maintain that commitment to professional excellence in this new position.”

The Marine Patrol is a Bureau of the Maine Department of Marine Resource that provides law enforcement, search and rescue, public health, maritime security, and public safety services on Maine’s coastal and tidal waters. For information on exciting careers in the Marine Patrol, visit http://www.maine.gov/dmr/index.htm.