After working in an interim capacity for nearly a year and a half, longtime federal prosecutor Ronald W. Sharpe has been appointed U.S. Attorney for the Virgin Islands by President Barack Obama.

Sharpe took over in late 2009 for former interim U.S. Attorney Paul Murphy, who was temporarily tapped to fill the position after the retirement of U.S. Attorney Anthony Jenkins the year before.

Sharpe also worked as first assistant U.S. Attorney in the Virgin Islands from 2008 to 2009, according to a news release from Delegate Donna Christensen’s office. U.S. Attorneys are appointed by the president and confirmed the by U.S. Senate.

Sharpe has worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia since 1995 and has served within various sections of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including the homicide, fraud and public corruption sections.

Sharpe graduated from Tulane University with a bachelor’s of science degree in 1987 and from Stanford Law School in 1991.

"This position has gone unfilled for a long time," Christensen said her statement Wednesday. "The nomination will bring some stability and certainty to the conduct of this important office. I congratulate Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharpe on this nomination."

There are 93 U.S. Attorneys throughout the United States, including those working in the territories. Each attorney is tasked with being the chief federal law enforcement officer within his or her jurisdiction, according to the U.S. Justice Department’s website.