AUGUSTA — The state Senate has confirmed Brian Whitney as director of the Maine Technology Institute.

The Republican-led Senate unanimously approved his nomination Tuesday.

Whitney has been director of business development and innovation for the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development since 2012. Prior to that, he was chief of staff to the Maine Senate president in 2002 and also worked for former Republican U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe.

Whitney was named acting director of the publicly-funded nonprofit in August after the institute’s former director, Robert Martin, was ousted by Republican Gov. Paul LePage.

Whitney told lawmakers on the Labor, Commerce, Research and Development Committee on Monday that he’s looking forward to working with the Legislature to help grow the economy and create good-paying jobs.