Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation
Encyclopedia
The Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate
, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as the chief advisor to the Governor on land, water, air and space traffic transportation needs and infastructure.
The current Secretary of Transportation is Gary Ridley
, who was appointed by Governor Brad Henry
in 2009.
. The Act directed the Secretary of Transportation to advise the Governor on transportation needs and infastructure policy and advise the state transportation agencies on new policy as directed by the Governor.
or as the Director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. As of 2010, five of the six Transportation Secretaries have served in one of those dual positions, with three serving in all three.
As of fiscal year 2011
, the Secretary of Transportation oversees 3478 full time employees and is responsible for an annual budget of over $1.9 billion.
example unique is that he serves as both the head of the Transportation Department (ODOT) and the Director of the Turnpike Authority (OTA). As such, he receives the salaries allowed to both positions. As of 2010, the annual salary for the ODOT Director is set at $118,000 and the salary of the OTA Director is set at $133,000. This gives Ridley a combinded annual compensation package of $250,000.
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....
, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as the chief advisor to the Governor on land, water, air and space traffic transportation needs and infastructure.
The current Secretary of Transportation is Gary Ridley
Gary Ridley (transport director)
Gary Ridley, PE, 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...
, who was appointed by Governor 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.
History
The position of Secretary of Transportation was established in 1986 to provide greater oversight and coordination to the agricultural activities of the State government. The position was established, along with the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet, by the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986
The Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986 is an Oklahoma state law that requires the Governor of Oklahoma to organize the various departments, agencies, boards, commissions and other entities of the state's executive branch into a cabinet system.The Executive Branch Reform Act was signed into law by...
. The Act directed the Secretary of Transportation to advise the Governor on transportation needs and infastructure policy and advise the state transportation agencies on new policy as directed by the Governor.
Dual Position
Oklahoma state law always for Cabinet Secretaries to serve concurrently as the head of a State agency in addition to their duties as a Cabinet Secretary. Historically, the Secretary of Transportation has also served as either the Director of 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...
or as the Director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. As of 2010, five of the six Transportation Secretaries have served in one of those dual positions, with three serving in all three.
| Name | Other Position Held (if any) |
|---|---|
| Neal McCaleb Neal McCaleb Neal A. "Chief" McCaleb is an American civil engineer and Republican politician from Oklahoma. A member of the Chickasaw Nation, McCaleb served as in several position with Oklahoma state government and as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs under President of the United States... |
Director, 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... |
| Delmas Ford | |
| Neal McCaleb Neal McCaleb Neal A. "Chief" McCaleb is an American civil engineer and Republican politician from Oklahoma. A member of the Chickasaw Nation, McCaleb served as in several position with Oklahoma state government and as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs under President of the United States... |
Director, 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... Director, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority |
| Herschel Crow | Director, 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... Director, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority |
| 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... |
Director, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority |
| Gary Ridley Gary Ridley (transport director) Gary Ridley, PE, 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... |
Director, 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... Director, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority |
Responsibilities
The Secretary of Transportation is responsible for the construction, maintenance, and regulation of state's transportation system. This infrastructure includes rail lines, state highways, state turnpikes, state seaports, state airports and state spaceports.As of fiscal year 2011
2011 Oklahoma state budget
The Oklahoma State Budget for Fiscal Year 2011, is a spending request by Governor Brad Henry to fund government operations for July 1, 2010–June 30, 2011. Governor Henry and legislative leader approved the budget in May 2010...
, the Secretary of Transportation oversees 3478 full time employees and is responsible for an annual budget of over $1.9 billion.
Agencies overseen
The Secretary of Transportation oversees the following state entities:- Aeronautics CommissionOklahoma Aeronautics CommissionThe 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...
- Department of TransportationOklahoma Department of TransportationThe 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...
- Space Industry Development AuthorityOklahoma Space Industry Development AuthorityThe Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority is a development authority created by the state of Oklahoma to operate a spaceport near Burns Flat, Oklahoma....
- Turnpike Authority
Salary
The Secretary of Transportation is one of the few Cabiner Secretaries whose annual salary is not set by law. As such, it is left to the Governor to determine the positions salary through the annual budget. Despite this, if the Secretary serves as the head of State agency, the Secretary receives the higher of the two salaries. What makes incumbent Secretary Gary Ridley'sGary Ridley (transport director)
Gary Ridley, PE, 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...
example unique is that he serves as both the head of the Transportation Department (ODOT) and the Director of the Turnpike Authority (OTA). As such, he receives the salaries allowed to both positions. As of 2010, the annual salary for the ODOT Director is set at $118,000 and the salary of the OTA Director is set at $133,000. This gives Ridley a combinded annual compensation package of $250,000.
List of Secretaries
| # | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Governor 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... served under |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neal McCaleb Neal McCaleb Neal A. "Chief" McCaleb is an American civil engineer and Republican politician from Oklahoma. A member of the Chickasaw Nation, McCaleb served as in several position with Oklahoma state government and as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs under President of the United States... |
1987 | 1991 | Henry Bellmon Henry Bellmon Henry Louis "Harry" Bellmon was an American Republican politician from Oklahoma. He was a member of the Oklahoma Legislature, the 18th and 23rd Governor of Oklahoma , and a two-term United States Senator.-Service in World War II:Bellmon was born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma and graduated from Billings... |
| 2 | Delmas Ford | 1991 | 1995 | David Walters David Walters David Lee Walters was the 24th Governor of Oklahoma from 1991 to 1995.-Biography:Walters was born near Canute, Oklahoma. He graduated as valedictorian from Canute High School in 1969. He later graduated from University of Oklahoma in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering... |
| 3 | Neal McCaleb Neal McCaleb Neal A. "Chief" McCaleb is an American civil engineer and Republican politician from Oklahoma. A member of the Chickasaw Nation, McCaleb served as in several position with Oklahoma state government and as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs under President of the United States... |
1995 | 2001 | 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... |
| 4 | Herschal Crow | 2001 | 2003 | |
| 5 | 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... |
2003 | 2009 | 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... |
| 6 | Gary Ridley Gary Ridley (transport director) Gary Ridley, PE, 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... |
2009 | 2011 | |
| 2011 | Present | Mary Fallin Mary 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.... |