The chief executive officer of the Department of Mines shall be the Chief Mine Inspector. In the absence of an appointed Chief Mine Inspector the chief executive officer shall be the Director who shall be appointed by the Oklahoma Mining Commission and who shall serve at the pleasure of said Commission and fix his or her duties and compensation. The Director shall be chosen with regard to his or her knowledge, training, experience and ability in administering the functions of the Department. No person shall be appointed Director who has not been a resident and a qualified elector of this state for a period of at least three (3) years preceding appointment.