The executive director, subject to the approval of the commission, shall employ a chief engineer who shall be a registered civil engineer, a graduate of a recognized school of engineering, and who shall have had not less than five (5) years’ actual professional experience in highway construction. The chief engineer shall also be a deputy executive director of the department with such powers and duties as may be prescribed by the commission. The chief engineer shall give bond in the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) in some surety company authorized to do business in this state, which bond shall be conditioned upon the faithful performance and discharge of his duties. The principal and surety on such bond shall be liable thereunder to the State of Mississippi for double the amount of the value of any money or property which the state may lose, if any, by reason of any wrongful or criminal act of such engineer. The term of office of the chief engineer shall be for a period of four (4) years, unless sooner removed as hereinafter provided, and he shall be eligible for reappointment. The first term of office, however, shall extend from the date of appointment until the first Monday of January 1952.