RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - He has been acting head of the state's key law enforcement agency but now Bernard "B.W." Collier has been confirmed as the permanent Director of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).

The former SBI agent was given the oath of office last week at the State Capitol in a ceremony attended by his family, Gov. Pat McCrory and Department of Public Safety Secretary Frank Perry.

Collier is in charge of more than 300 agents. He was an SBI Special Agent for 26 years and director of Alcohol Law Enforcement before being appointed acting director of the SBI.

His background and expertise includes time as a drug investigator, pilot, arson and crime scene agent, canine handler, technical agent and bomb squad commander.