![Andrew Colvin will be recommended as the new AFP Commissioner, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on Wednesday. Photo: Andrew Meares Andrew Colvin will be recommended as the new AFP Commissioner, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on Wednesday. Photo: Andrew Meares](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/dacd643a-7e6a-4a43-a9ba-09612dbc1058.jpg/r0_0_1024_682_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Andrew Colvin will be recommended as the new AFP Commissioner, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on Wednesday. Photo: Andrew Meares Andrew Colvin will be recommended as the new AFP Commissioner, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on Wednesday. Photo: Andrew Meares](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/88b64230-8dbc-41f5-b672-cc5b7cbe0f7e.jpg/r0_0_729_410_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Andrew Colvin will be recommended as the new AFP Commissioner, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on Wednesday. Photo: Andrew Meares Andrew Colvin will be recommended as the new AFP Commissioner, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on Wednesday. Photo: Andrew Meares](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/4539725f-8621-41a2-9be7-0395cf0c3387.jpg/r0_0_360_539_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Andrew Colvin will be recommended as the new AFP Commissioner, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on Wednesday. Photo: Andrew Meares Andrew Colvin will be recommended as the new AFP Commissioner, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on Wednesday. Photo: Andrew Meares](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/a83bd9a5-4f0c-4dd5-8fc6-9b0b6c1d3986.jpg/r0_0_360_426_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
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The face of the Australian Federal Police in recent times, Andrew Colvin, has been appointed the new Commissioner of the organisation.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott made the announcement at a joint media conference at Parliament House in Canberra.
Mr Colvin has been in the force for 24 years, has been acting Commissioner since last month and has been prominent in the media of late, particularly in the wake of the MH17 crash and the raising of the terror threat level.
Justice Minister Michael Keenan says Mr Colvin's appointment comes after an international and domestic search for a suitable candidate to replace Tony Negus. Mr Keenan called it a "baptism of fire", which Mr Colvin had handled well.
Mr Keenan noted that Mr Colvin's appointment comes "at a critical time - he will need to respond to the changed national security environment" while ensuring that the battle against organised crime is not compromised.
"We believe he has the vision, the commitment and the energy to lead Australia's national policing agency," said Mr Keenan.
He will hold the role for five years.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott described Mr Colvin as an "outstanding career police officer" and said he was "eminently suited" to lead the Australian Federal Police in these "challenging times".
Mr Colvin said he would in coming days map out what he saw as the future for the AFP.
He said national security would dominate the focus of his work but vowed that the force would remain vigilant in the fight against transnational crime.
When asked about speculation surrounding the possible creation of a new security "super-agency" based on a US style homeland security operation, Mr Colvin said he would offer advice to the government's review.
"We will be a very active and important contributor to that review," Mr Colvin said but added, "right now I think the arrangements are working well".
Asked about the "super-agency" on Wednesday, Attorney-General George Brandis said he was not convinced changes would be necessary, as "people should be confident" in the current national security arrangements.