Magaw served in a number of supervisory positions including at the Presidential Protective Division and as the deputy assistant director of the Office of Investigations, according to the agency. He replaces Alvin Smith, who resigned last month.
Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy said in a statement that Magaw had a "stellar" reputation and was well respected within the agency and among its stakeholders.
"As an experienced leader and public servant, Craig is committed to supporting the men and women of the Secret Service and fulfilling our integrated mission," Clancy said.
The Secret Service will also create a new Chief Operating Officer position and appoint someone to fill it in the near future, according to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson. The new COO will be responsible for planning and directing all business and program activities.
The COO will also focus on improving performance and coordinating among the various agency components, according to Johnson. He said the agency is working to implement the recommendations of the independent review conducted after a number of security breaches and personnel incidents at the agency.
The most recent incident came when a pair of Secret Service officers knocked into a White House barricade, after a night of alleged drinking.
"As recent events have clearly shown, there is more to be done to promote operational excellence and public trust in the Secret Service. However, change does not happen overnight," Johnson said in a statement.
