For the first time in Rhode Island, a woman is leading the Office of the Public Defender.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee on Monday swore in Mary McElroy to head the office, which he says critical to the state.

McElroy has been an assistant federal public defender since 2006. Before that, she worked in the state public defender's office from 1994. She will lead an office that has nearly 100 full-time employees.

McElroy says it was an honor to be chosen and calls it her dream job.

U.S. District Court Judge Jack McConnell says her appointment breaks a glass ceiling in the state.

McElroy succeeds John Hardiman, who died in October at age 56.