The Rose Island Foundation is proud to anounce a new director will be the guiding light for Rose Island operations.

Dave McCurdy is the new executive director of the Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation and in charge of operations in the lighthouse and on the island. "I feel a big connection to the island," he said. "It's a wonderful place. It couldn't be a better place to work."

McCurdy replaces Charlotte Johnson, who has been the leader of efforts to restore and preserve Rose Island and its lighthouse for the past 24 years, and was the foundation's only executive director until now

For the past 10 years, McCurdy has worked for the Atlantic States Rural Water Association, where he worked on drinking-water issues and developed groundwater protection programs with local communities throughout the Northeast.

"We are extremely pleased to have found such a terrific match for (the foundation)," Carol Trocki, president of the board, wrote in a prepared statement. "David is talented and engaging, with creative ideas and a charming personality. His strong communication skills and diverse background make him the perfect person for this position. We are all very much looking forward to working with him."