WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- President Bush will designate U.S. Homeland Security Undersecretary for Management Paul Schneider as the department’s acting deputy secretary next week.

The White House named Schneider in a statement Thursday as the man who will replace Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson while a nominee for the permanent position is found.

Jackson, who is in effect the department’s chief operating officer and runs it day-to-day, recently announced he would step down Oct. 26, in what some commentators saw as an unexpected blow to the department.

Calling himself “enormously pleased” with the choice of Schneider, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he brought “more than 40 years of management knowledge and expertise to this role.”

In a statement, Chertoff said Schneider’s federal service began in 1965 as a project engineer at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

His experience includes stints as the man in charge of research for the U.S. Navy and as the senior-most acquisition official for the National Security Agency.

“Paul has exhibited tremendous leadership and dedication,” said Chertoff. “He has the respect and admiration of staff and my full support.”