Patrick Baker is the fifth administrator in the state Senate's history, and the second to come from California.
"I have big shoes to fill," he said last week. "I am very honored and humbled to be a part of the (Senate's legislative) process. I am here to serve at the pleasure of the senators. I don't take that for granted."
Baker said he intends to be a behind-the-scenes, "in the background" man.
Baker's been doing the administrator's job since Sept. 1 - but he's been working in the Capitol for most of the last 17 years.
"I interned at the Capitol in 2001 and again in 2002," he explained, "and really enjoyed it.
"The process really intrigued me from the start, so, in 2003, I started working for then-Sen. Gary Nodler (R-Joplin), and I've had various positions over the years."
For a time, Baker was the policy director for the Senate's Republican Caucus.
He left the Legislature to work at the Revenue Department, and for a couple of private associations.
Baker began 2017 as new Lt. Gov. Mike Parson's chief of staff, then moved to Gov. Eric Greitens' office as the state's disaster recovery coordinator, following last spring's devastating storms and floods across south-Central and Southern Missouri.
His new job is non-partisan. He is the chief executive officer for the Senate and oversees all of its operations, directors and staff.
"Everything I do, and everything the Senate staff does, is to complement the legislative side," Baker said, noting the Legislature's primary function is introducing, debating and passing bills into law.
He's using the next few months to review what his predecessors have done and prepare for the upcoming session.
"Reading back through (previous minutes), and seeing the discussions they had, gives me insight," Baker said, "into what previous administrations thought, and what previous committees made decisions and why.
"So I can best advise this Administration Committee."
Ron Kirchoff - the other California native to hold the job - was the Senate's first administrator, serving from 1976-2002. He shifted to the research director's post in early 2002.
When he died in April 2004, the Senate's leaders at the time credited Kirchoff with bringing the state Senate into the modern era.
Baker said his job still involves modernization.
Baker said decisions will be made that "will embrace certain changes" while also keeping "an eye to the historical past" in the tradition-filled state Senate.
When he's not working, Baker likes to read and travel.
"I have some very close friends I like to spend time with," he said. "Their children call me 'Uncle.'
"And then I have my own nieces and nephews that I spend time with."