Old Lyme -- The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced Wednesday that Environmental Conservation Police Sgt. Ryan Healy has been promoted to the rank of captain.

Captain Healy will head up EnCon's Marine Division, which is based at DEEP's Marine Headquarters in Old Lyme.

"In his work with the agency over the past 18 years, Captain Healy has played a unique role of performing not only traditional law enforcement activities, but also protecting Connecticut's natural resources and marine life at the same time," Susan Whalen, DEEP deputy commissioner, said in a news release. "In his new position, Captain Healy will oversee the EnCon Police Division's enforcement of commercial and marine fishing laws and law enforcement operations in Connecticut's three major shoreline parks."

Healy joined the EnCon Police unit in 1994 as an officer in the marine district. Before that, he was a commercial fisherman and holds a Coast Guard 100-ton pilot's license. He was promoted to sergeant in 2006.

He was named officer of the year in 1997, and received a medal for outstanding service in 2005 and a citation for outstanding service in 2010.