David Lawrence Brown II has been named the state's top archaeologist, a post that will require him to review reports on proposed development projects across the state for their effect on archaeological or historic sites.

The position, which falls under the state Historic Preservation Division, has been vacant since Sara Collins resigned at the end of January. Brown will report to Melanie Chinen, division administrator.

Brown most recently has been employed as a senior archaeologist at the local office of Garcia and Associates, a natural and cultural resources consulting firm that has offices on the Mainland and in Kailua.

Before that, Brown has served with historic preservation offices in Illinois, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

"As new branch chief, David Brown brings with him an understanding and appreciation of native cultures, outstanding leadership skills and a wealth of experience in how preservation offices should be run," Chinen said in a news release from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Brown intends to streamline the review process, adopt standard practices and procedures for site recordation, and encourage "nonintrusive remote sensing surveying methods so that historic sites and Native Hawaiian burials may be identified pro-actively rather than through destructive methods," the DLNR release said.

The state has been criticized for chronic understaffing at the historic preservation division in recent years while the demand caused by burgeoning development increases. Chinen said she has been given the go-ahead to fill the vacancies and add new staff.

Alan Murakami, attorney with the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. which has had disputes with the division, said he wishes the new archaeology chief well.

He said that in the past, archaeologists and those involved in the burial sites program have not worked cooperatively to ensure sites are monitored and protected.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.