Gary Ridley (transport director)
Encyclopedia
Gary Ridley, PE
, (born 1945) is an American engineer
from the state of Oklahoma
who is the current Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation
, having served since he was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma
Brad Henry
in 2009. In addition to his service as Transportation Secretary, Ridley also serves concurrently as both the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation
(since 2001) and the Director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (since 2009).
in 1965, when he started as an equipment operator. He moved up to maintenance superintendent at Kingfisher, Oklahoma
in 1970 and traffic superintendent at Perry, Oklahoma
in 1979. In 1983 he became field maintenance engineer at Perry, then advanced to Division Five Maintenance Engineer at Clinton
, Oklahoma in 1986. He became Division Engineer at Clinton in 1995.
He left ODOT in 1997 to become executive director of the Oklahoma Asphalt Paving Association. He returned to the department in January 2001 as Assistant Director for Operations. In August 2009, Ridely was appointed by the Oklahoma Transportion Commission as the Director of the Transportation Department. As Director, Ridley was responsible for managing the Department through the crisis caused by the Webbers Falls bridge disaster
, and the reconstruction in the summer of 2002.
Brad Henry
appointed Ridely as his second Secretary of Transportation
following the resignation of Phil Tomlinson
in 2009. As Transportation Secretary, Ridley has supervision over all state transportation initiatives and the entities charged with implementing them, uncluding the Oklahoma Department of Transportation
, the Oklahoma Transportation Authority
, the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission
, the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority
and all Port Authorities within the state.
Ridley serves as Transportation Secretary concurrently with his position as Transportation Department Director, which gives him direct control over that Department.
In October, 2009, former Transportation Secretary Phil Tomlinson retired as Director of the Oklahoma Transportation Authority
effecitve November 1, 2009. The Authority then appointed Secretary Ridley to succeed Tomlinson as Director. With his appointment as Turnpike Director, Ridely is the first person to serve concurrently as Transportation Secretary, Transportation Department Director and Turnpike Authority Director since Neal A. McCaleb in 1999 under Governor Frank Keating
.
announced that she would retain Ridely as Secretary of Transportation in her Administration. Fallin would also retain Ridely as the Director of both the Department of Transportation and the Turnpike Authority.
and have two children, Daphne and Joe.
Professional Engineer
Regulation of the engineering profession is established by various jurisdictions of the world to protect the safety, well-being and other interests of the general public, and to define the licensure process through which an engineer becomes authorized to provide professional services to the...
, (born 1945) is an American engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
from the state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
who is the current Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation
Oklahoma State Cabinet
The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...
, having served since he was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
in 2009. In addition to his service as Transportation Secretary, Ridley also serves concurrently as both the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation
Oklahoma Department of Transportation
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for the construction, maintenance, and regulation the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
(since 2001) and the Director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (since 2009).
Department of Transportation
Ridley joined the Oklahoma Department of TransportationOklahoma Department of Transportation
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for the construction, maintenance, and regulation the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
in 1965, when he started as an equipment operator. He moved up to maintenance superintendent at Kingfisher, Oklahoma
Kingfisher, Oklahoma
Kingfisher is a city in and the county seat of Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 4,380 at the 2000 census. It is the former home and namesake of Kingfisher College.-History:...
in 1970 and traffic superintendent at Perry, Oklahoma
Perry, Oklahoma
Perry is a city in Noble County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,126. It is the county seat of Noble County.-19th century:...
in 1979. In 1983 he became field maintenance engineer at Perry, then advanced to Division Five Maintenance Engineer at Clinton
Clinton, Oklahoma
Clinton is a city in Custer and Washita counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 9,033 at the 2010 census.-History:The community began in 1899 when two men, J.L. Avant and E.E...
, Oklahoma in 1986. He became Division Engineer at Clinton in 1995.
He left ODOT in 1997 to become executive director of the Oklahoma Asphalt Paving Association. He returned to the department in January 2001 as Assistant Director for Operations. In August 2009, Ridely was appointed by the Oklahoma Transportion Commission as the Director of the Transportation Department. As Director, Ridley was responsible for managing the Department through the crisis caused by the Webbers Falls bridge disaster
The I-40 Bridge Disaster
The I-40 bridge disaster was a bridge collapse that occurred southeast of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma on May 26, 2002. Joe Dedmon, captain of the tugboat Robert Y. Love, experienced a blackout and lost control of the ship. This, in turn, caused the barge he was controlling to collide with a bridge...
, and the reconstruction in the summer of 2002.
Henry Administration
Governor of OklahomaGovernor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
appointed Ridely as his second Secretary of Transportation
Oklahoma State Cabinet
The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...
following the resignation of Phil Tomlinson
Phil Tomlinson
Phil Tomlinson is an American politician from the state of Oklahoma that served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation from 2003 to 2009. Tomlinson served as Transportation Secretary under Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry...
in 2009. As Transportation Secretary, Ridley has supervision over all state transportation initiatives and the entities charged with implementing them, uncluding the Oklahoma Department of Transportation
Oklahoma Department of Transportation
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for the construction, maintenance, and regulation the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
, the Oklahoma Transportation Authority
Oklahoma Transportation Authority
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is a government agency of Oklahoma that deals with issues regarding the Oklahoma turnpike system...
, the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission
Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission
The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission is an agency of state government that is responsible for promoting aviation in the State. Under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation, the Commission fosters the growth of the aerospace industry and ensures that the needs of business and...
, the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority
Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority
The Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority is a development authority created by the state of Oklahoma to operate a spaceport near Burns Flat, Oklahoma....
and all Port Authorities within the state.
Ridley serves as Transportation Secretary concurrently with his position as Transportation Department Director, which gives him direct control over that Department.
In October, 2009, former Transportation Secretary Phil Tomlinson retired as Director of the Oklahoma Transportation Authority
Oklahoma Transportation Authority
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is a government agency of Oklahoma that deals with issues regarding the Oklahoma turnpike system...
effecitve November 1, 2009. The Authority then appointed Secretary Ridley to succeed Tomlinson as Director. With his appointment as Turnpike Director, Ridely is the first person to serve concurrently as Transportation Secretary, Transportation Department Director and Turnpike Authority Director since Neal A. McCaleb in 1999 under Governor Frank Keating
Frank Keating
Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999...
.
Fallin Administration
On November 29, 2010, Governor-elect Mary FallinMary Fallin
Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....
announced that she would retain Ridely as Secretary of Transportation in her Administration. Fallin would also retain Ridely as the Director of both the Department of Transportation and the Turnpike Authority.
Personal life
Ridley is a native of Chicago, Illinois and a registered professional engineer. He and his wife, Eula, live in Yukon, OklahomaYukon, Oklahoma
Yukon is a city in Canadian County, Oklahoma, United States and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area. The population was 22,709 at the 2010 census....
and have two children, Daphne and Joe.