COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A U.S. Army veteran from south-central Ohio is the new superintendent of the Ohio Veterans Homes.

The head of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services says Michael Oppy of Chillicothe will assume the superintendent's job Monday. Department Director Tim Gorrell  appointed Oppy to lead the state-operated nursing homes for veterans of wartime service.

The state-operated homes consist of a 427-bed nursing home and a 293 independent-living domiciliary in Sandusky and a 189-bed nursing home in Georgetown.

Oppy has worked for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for 21 years. He has been correctional warden of the Ross Correctional Institution since 2012. He replaces the state veterans homes interim superintendent Fred Stratmann.

Stratmann will resume his full-time duties as chief counsel of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services.