President Barack Obama on Tuesday named veteran Secret Service agent Julia Pierson as the agency's new director Pierson, who most recently served as the agency's chief of staff, will take over from Mark Sullivan, who announced his retirement last month, the Associated Press reported.

In addition to protecting the president, the Secret Service also investigates financial crimes.

"Over her 30 years of experience with the Secret Service, Julia has consistently exemplified the spirit and dedication the men and women of the service demonstrate every day," Obama said in a statement announcing Pierson's appointment.

"Julia is eminently qualified to lead the agency that not only safeguards Americans at major events and secures our financial system, but also protects our leaders and our first families, including my own," Obama said. "Julia has had an exemplary career, and I know these experiences will guide her as she takes on this new challenge to lead the impressive men and women of this important agency."

Pierson has served as deputy assistant director of the office of protective operations and assistant director of human resources and training. She also served as chief of staff since 2008.

She joined the Secret Service in 1983 as a special agent and previously worked as a police officer in Orlando, Florida.

Her appointment is historic for her being the first woman to lead the agency, which dealt with scrutiny in the past year for a prostitution scandal during preparations for Obama's trip to Cartagena, Colombia, last year.