More than a year after his predecessor died, a new member of the Economic Development Authority finally took the Cypress borough seat this week.

Fritz Skeeter, an electrical engineer at Newport News Shipbuilding, replaces former representative Johnnie Edwards, who died in March 2010. Edwards had replaced another man who died while on the board.

Other members joked that Councilman Charles Brown took so long finding a replacement because nobody in his borough had a death wish.

“We’re thankful Mr. Brown finally found someone to accept the position,” Chairman Harold Faulk said during Wednesday’s meeting.

Skeeter has worked at the shipyard since 1996. He designs the electrical systems on submarines.

“It takes a lot of attention and a lot of detail,” he said. Wednesday.

Skeeter attended Virginia State University. He also has worked at companies including Koh Systems and Superior Engineering.

He is president of the Suffolk Kiwanis Club, “so I’m used to volunteering around the city,” he said.

Skeeter, who is the son of School Board chair Lorraine Skeeter, said he believed his first meeting went well because Kevin Hughes, the director of the Economic Development department, met with him to go over the authority’s budget.

“Kevin pulled me aside earlier in the week and went over all the details,” Skeeter said. “I thought it went good.”

His fellow authority members welcomed him with lots of laughter.

“You have a lot to live up to,” said Oliver Creekmore, who was appointed earlier this year to replace Michael Duman after Duman was elected to City Council.