ALBANY – The State University of New York Board of Trustees yesterday hired a former U.S. Navy admiral to serve as interim chancellor at a salary of $340,000 a year while giving the current chancellor a $206,000-a-year teaching job.

Retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral John Ryan, a former U.S. Naval Academy superintendent, will begin as interim chancellor June 1, when current Chancellor Robert King said he will resign.

Admiral Ryan won’t receive the chancellor’s $90,000-a-year housing allowance. Instead, he’ll receive $90,000 more than the base salary paid to Mr. King. Board members said the changes will ensure SUNY’s growth at a time of record enrollment, minority enrollment, endowments, and college board scores of freshman.

As chancellor, Mr. King, 58, has received the $90,000 annual housing allowance in addition to his $250,000 salary while remaining in his home in the Albany suburbs. He also had free use of a SUNY car and driver during his five years on the job.

Admiral Ryan isn’t entitled to the housing allowance because he will live in the chancellor’s penthouse apartment, for free, in the south tower of SUNY Central at Albany. He is also expected to have a chauffeur-driven car.

Replacing Admiral Ryan as president of Maritime College will be former U.S. Navy Vice Admiral John Craine, who will be paid $175,000 a year as acting president. But Admiral Craine will also continue to be paid his full-time director’s salary for a SUNY research arm, according to board action yesterday. A year ago, Admiral Craine directed an efficiency study of SUNY and found the system “effective and efficient.” Candace de Russy, a SUNY trustee, found the research presented in a series of slides rather than a bound report to be skimpy and less than a critical analysis. SUNY spokesman David Henahan said he didn’t know how much Admiral Craine is already paid. But state payroll records show he made $162,500 at Maritime College in 2004.

Mr. Henahan released data that showed the interim salary of $340,000 is less than 15 other public system chancellors are paid. The City University of New York pays $350,000 and Rutgers University pays $525,000.

Ms. De Russy, however, joined all board members in praising Admiral Ryan’s military career, as did Senator McCain in a prepared statement.

“SUNY has chosen wisely in selecting such a dedicated professional,” said the Republican of Arizona, a decorated officer and Naval Academy graduate. “I am confident that Admiral Ryan will bring to this position the same strong leadership and demonstrated excellence he exhibited as superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy … New York is getting a strong leader for whom I have the greatest respect.”

Ms. De Russy opposed the hires, saying it wasn’t prudent for taxpayers or students who have faced tuition increases in recent years. She had pushed for Vice Chancellor Elizabeth Capaldi, who was hired in 2003 for the new position of Mr. King’s chief of staff at an annual salary of $270,000.

Admiral Ryan “is here, he is on the ground, he understands us,” said trustee Randy Daniels, the Pataki administration’s secretary of state. “I think he is the best choice we could have made under the circumstances.”

Mr. King yesterday was named interim president at SUNY’s Potsdam College, where he will be paid $206,000 a year. He also will be appointed tenured “university professor” status.