Yes, he doesn't normally leave a position of the forum unappointed when there's a need and someone who can fill the slot.
Potentially produce some sort of shortlist on a thread fore each section that is without a moderator. The shortlist should be Sr members plus at least (theymos isn't going to trust someone who has only been here a few weeks to run a board of the forum - with a higher ranked account there's more for the user to lose).
Although, theymos has made users that have been lower ranked than Sr Member. I believe rickbig was one of these members. Of course, I would agree that higher ranked members have less of a risk associated with them, but certainly not in all cases.
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Xalolex and frodocooper were selected as moderators much younger than a Sr. Member but they are doing their job well...