A retired Kern County sheriff's commander has been appointed Cal State Bakersfield's new police chief.

Claudia Fivecoat is the first female chief of police in the history of the campus. Fivecoat started June 1, coming out of retirement. She had worked at the Kern County Sheriff's Department for close to 25 years.

Being new to the position, Fivecoat is still adjusting to the campus, but she's excited nonetheless.

"At this point my head is swimming, but as far as being here, I love the campus," Fivecoat said Tuesday.

Fivecoat, 50, replaces Brian Baker, who retired in October. Jack Campbell acted as interim chief while the university searched for a replacement.

CSUB Public Relations Director Mike Stepanovich said Fivecoat is well-suited for the job.

"She seems first-rate, she seems very knowledgeable, she seems like an excellent choice," Stepanovich said. "She has an excellent wealth of experience. She has a broad background in law enforcement."

Fivecoat started working in the Sheriff's Department in June 1979. She was promoted to sergeant, then lieutenant and then commander.

She said she is looking forward to working with everyone on campus.

"It (the response on campus) has been positive. The people have seemed to be really great," Fivecoat said.

Mike Neal, CSUB's vice president of Business and Administrative Services, said Fivecoat will do a fine job on campus because of her background with the Sheriff's Department and being a former CSUB student.

"I think she'll do a wonderful job. She's a graduate of the campus, she knows the campus and she knows the community," Neal said.