Adjutant General of Oklahoma

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The Adjutant General of Oklahoma is the highest ranking military official in the state of Oklahoma, subordinate only to the Governor of Oklahoma. The highest officer of the Oklahoma National Guard, the Adjutant General is the principle advisor to the Governor on military affairs and the head of the Oklahoma Department of the Military as the Secretary of the Military.

The current Adjutant General of Oklahoma is Major General Harry M. Wyatt III. Major General Wyatt was appointed by Governor Brad Henry in 2003.

Contents 1 Appointment 2 Requirements 3 Duties 4 Staff

[edit] Appointment

The Adjutant General is appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma, and confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor with no set term.

Once appointed, the Adjutant General is elevated to the rank of Major General.

[edit] Requirements

In order to be eligible for hold the office of Adjutant General, an officer must be federally recognized as being part as of the Oklahoma National Guard and the United States National Guard and must hold the at least the rank of Colonel for the at least three years prior to appointment. However, should the Oklahoma National Guard be federalized and no person in the state meets these requirements, the Governor may appoint anyone that meets these requirements that served in the previous ten years with at least two years of federal service at the rank of Colonel or higher.

[edit] Duties

The Governor is the Commander-in-Chief of the Oklahoma Military with the Adjutant General responsible for running the day to day operations of the Military Department of Oklahoma. According to state law, the Adjutant General is “subordinate only to the Governor” and is also his principal military advisor. The Adjutant General is responsible for the supervision of direction of the National Guard when in the service of the state at the direction of the Governor. The Adjutant General is also responsible for the organization, training and other activities of the Guard. As the second highest commander in the state, the Adjutant General is responsible for carrying into effect the orders of the Governor as Commander in Chief. The Governor may proscribe “other military and defense duties” to the Adjutant General as he may deem necessary.

As the head of the Military Department, the Adjutant General has full control over funds allotted to the National Guard armories. Funds are controlled, deposited, expended and accounted for at the sole direction of the Adjutant General. The Adjutant General may order any record kept at individual armories audited at his discretion. Also, the Adjutant General is the Trustee of the Military Department and may act as such when accepting funds, land, or property to be used for the National Guard. When building new armories, the Adjutant General appoints a three member board that selects all architects and contractors for the project. In order to protect the National Guard’s property, the Adjutant General may appoint police officers of the Oklahoma Military Department to serve in that function.

The Adjutant General is granted the power to lease to any person(s), company(s), or agency(s), the armories of the State, with contracts not to exceed one year. The contract may be terminated by order of the Adjutant General after a written notice of 30 days is given to the other parties in the contract. If legal action is necessary, the Adjutant General can order the Attorney General of Oklahoma to investigate the claims.

The Governor has the power to allow National Guardsmen to voluntarily serve under federal authority in certain instances. At the pleasure of the Governor, this power may be delegated to the Adjutant General. The Adjutant General, at the consent of the Governor, may assist other states in cooperative enforcement programs.

At the discretion of the Adjutant General, an Oklahoma Recruiting Medal may be awarded to any member of the Oklahoma National Guard who is “personally and solely responsible” for recruiting five new member to the Oklahoma National Guard within one year’s time.

[edit] Staff

In order to assist the Adjutant General, the Governor may appoint two assistants to serve under the Adjutant General:

• The Assistant Adjutant General for Army to manage the Army National Guard of Oklahoma
• The Assistant Adjutant General for Air to manage the Air National Guard of Oklahoma

Both Assistant Adjutant Generals serve under the rank of Brigadier General and at the pleasure of the Governor. The Assistant Adjutant Generals are the highest official within their respective branch, only under the Adjutant General and the Governor.

Within the Department of the Military, the Adjutant General may appoint employees of the Military Department to the position of Executive Assistant and Program Manager to assist him in running the Military Department.