Gov. Bill Ritter has tapped a former commander in the Colorado National Guard to head the state's Division of Emergency Management.

Hans Kallam, who was director of operations for the adjutant general of the National Guard, will become the emergency management director Oct. 1.

Kallam will replace Chris Olson, who was abruptly dumped by the governor in July. Olson was Englewood's director of the Department for Safety Services when he was chosen by Ritter to head Colorado's emergency management division.

As a former commander and colonel with the National Guard, Kallam managed its command-and-control headquarters throughout Colorado. His duties at Colorado's emergency services division will be to supervise the state's responses to terrorist attacks, wildfires, tornadoes, flooding and hazardous materials spills.