WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., praised Senate confirmation of Mark B. Shepherd of McComb, as U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Mississippi. President Donald J. Trump nominated Shepherd for the position in June. He was confirmed on Wednesday evening.

Shepherd will lead U.S. Marshals Service activities for the Southern District of Mississippi, including federal judiciary protection, federal fugitive apprehension, seized asset management, federal prisoner housing and transportation, and Witness Security Program operation.

“The Southern District of Mississippi will be well-served by Mark Shepherd as U.S. Marshal,” Wicker said. “Senator Cochran and I recommended Mark for this position in 2017 because of his long, distinguished career in law enforcement. After unreasonable delays on many of the President’s qualified nominees, I am glad Senator Hyde-Smith and I were able to help secure Mark’s confirmation before the end of the 115th Congress.”

“Mark Shepherd has a level of experience that will be put to good use in leading the U.S. Marshal’s Southern District,” Hyde-Smith said. “I’m pleased the Senate confirmed Mark’s nomination before the end of the 115th Congress, and look forward to his good service for Mississippi and our nation.”

Shepherd served as sheriff in Pike County for 13 years, following a 20-year career as a patrolman with the McComb Police Department. Since 2004, he has served on the Mississippi Crime Stoppers Advisory Council and was president of the Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association from 2013 to 2014. A graduate of Southwest Mississippi Community College, Shepherd has extensive involvement in law enforcement and professional associations.

The Southern District of Mississippi is comprised of 45 counties: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Clarke, Copiah, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Holmes, Issaquena, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Kemper, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Leake, Lincoln, Madison, Marion, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Sharkey, Simpson, Smith, Stone, Walthall, Warren, Wayne, Wilkinson and Yazoo.