The Congressional Research Service has a new director.

Mary Mazanec, who has been serving in the post in an acting capacity since April, will become the permanent director effective immediately.

“Dr. Mazanec has advanced degrees in law and medicine and brings a breadth of experience that will be valuable in leading CRS and ensuring that CRS continues to provide comprehensive and objective research and analysis that meets the needs of Members and staff,” said James Billington, head of the Library of Congress, the agency that oversees CRS.

Before joining Congress’ main research arm that produces thousands of reports each year, Mazanec worked with the Department of Health and Human Services. She served there as a deputy assistant secretary and director of the Office of Medicine, Science and Public Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.

Previously, Mazanec was a health policy fellow and senior adviser to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. She also was a senior policy analyst at the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.

She succeeds Daniel Mulhollan, who retired in April after 17 years at the helm of CRS.