Adjutant General of Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
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 principal advisor to the Governor on military affairs and the head of the Oklahoma Military Department as the Secretary of the Military
.
The current Adjutant General
of Oklahoma is Major General Myles Deering
. Major General Deering was appointed by Governor Brad Henry
on February 3, 2009, following the promotion of Harry M. Wyatt III
to director of the Air National Guard at the Pentagon.
, 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.
and the United States National Guard
and must hold at least the rank of Colonel
for 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.
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 adviser. 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.
The Oklahoma State Legislature authorizes the Adjutant General to commission a state police force under OS title 44, section 230. To protect the Oklahoma Military Department's assets and personnel, the Adjutant General may commission State Police Officers to the Oklahoma Military Department Police to serve in that function. The Oklahoma Military Department Police, with the sole exception of the serving or execution of civil process, shall retain all the powers vested by law as state peace officers. The Oklahoma Military Department Police is a State law-enforcement agency that satisfies the criteria for Posse Comitatus. The Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385) passed on June 18, 1878, with the intention of substantially limiting the powers of the federal government to use the military for law enforcement. The Act prohibits members of the Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force, and State National Guard forces when such are called into federal service from exercising nominally state law enforcement, police, or peace officer powers. Including those that maintain "law and order" on non-federal property (states and their counties and municipal divisions) within the United States.
The statute generally prohibits federal military personnel and units of the National Guard under federal authority from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States, except where expressly authorized by the Constitution or Congress. The Coast Guard is exempt from the Act. The Oklahoma Military Department Police satisfies this stringent criterion. Officers sworn to this office are non-military, civilian state law enforcement personnel.
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.
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.
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...
, subordinate only to the 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...
. The highest officer of the Oklahoma National Guard
Oklahoma National Guard
The Oklahoma National Guard, a division of the Oklahoma Department of the Military, is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components. The Governor of Oklahoma is Commander-in-Chief of the Oklahoma National...
, the Adjutant General is the principal advisor to the Governor on military affairs and the head of the Oklahoma Military Department as the Secretary of the Military
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...
.
The current Adjutant General
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of Oklahoma is Major General Myles Deering
Myles Deering
Myles L. Deering is an Army National Guard major general who currently serves as the Adjutant General of Oklahoma. General Deering was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry in 2009 following the promotion of Harry M. Wyatt III to the position of Director, Air National Guard...
. Major General Deering 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...
on February 3, 2009, following the promotion of Harry M. Wyatt III
Harry M. Wyatt III
Lieutenant General Harry M. “Bud” Wyatt III, USAF is the Director, Air National Guard. He is an Air Force officer as well as an attorney from Oklahoma. Prior to assuming his current post he served as the Adjutant General of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Secretary of Military Affairs for the state of...
to director of the Air National Guard at the Pentagon.
Appointment
The Adjutant General is appointed by the 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...
, and confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate
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 with no set term.
Once appointed, the Adjutant General is elevated to the rank of Major General.
Requirements
To be eligible for hold the office of Adjutant General, an officer must be federally recognized as being part as of the Oklahoma National GuardOklahoma National Guard
The Oklahoma National Guard, a division of the Oklahoma Department of the Military, is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components. The Governor of Oklahoma is Commander-in-Chief of the Oklahoma National...
and the United States National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
and must hold at least the rank of Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
for 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.
Duties
The Governor is the Commander-in-ChiefCommander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
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 adviser. 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.
The Oklahoma State Legislature authorizes the Adjutant General to commission a state police force under OS title 44, section 230. To protect the Oklahoma Military Department's assets and personnel, the Adjutant General may commission State Police Officers to the Oklahoma Military Department Police to serve in that function. The Oklahoma Military Department Police, with the sole exception of the serving or execution of civil process, shall retain all the powers vested by law as state peace officers. The Oklahoma Military Department Police is a State law-enforcement agency that satisfies the criteria for Posse Comitatus. The Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385) passed on June 18, 1878, with the intention of substantially limiting the powers of the federal government to use the military for law enforcement. The Act prohibits members of the Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force, and State National Guard forces when such are called into federal service from exercising nominally state law enforcement, police, or peace officer powers. Including those that maintain "law and order" on non-federal property (states and their counties and municipal divisions) within the United States.
The statute generally prohibits federal military personnel and units of the National Guard under federal authority from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States, except where expressly authorized by the Constitution or Congress. The Coast Guard is exempt from the Act. The Oklahoma Military Department Police satisfies this stringent criterion. Officers sworn to this office are non-military, civilian state law enforcement personnel.
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
Attorney General of Oklahoma
The Attorney General of Oklahoma is the State Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma. The Attorney General serves as the chief legal and law enforcement officer of the State of Oklahoma. The Attorney General is responsible for providing legal advise to the various agencies and departments of...
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.
Staff
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 GuardArmy National GuardEstablished under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
of Oklahoma - The Assistant Adjutant General for Air to manage the Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
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.
External links
- Adjutant General Major General Myles L. Deering at Oklahoma National GuardOklahoma National GuardThe Oklahoma National Guard, a division of the Oklahoma Department of the Military, is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components. The Governor of Oklahoma is Commander-in-Chief of the Oklahoma National...
website (accessed April 4, 2010).
- "Secretary of the Military" in ABC Oklahoma: Agencies, Boards, and Commissions (Oklahoma Department of LibrariesOklahoma Department of LibrariesThe Oklahoma Department of Libraries is a department of the state of Oklahoma and serves as the official state library for the state of Oklahoma. ODL provides information management to the state, assists local public libraries, coordinates state-wide library and information technologly projects...
, September 1, 2009), p. 25.
See also
- Governor of OklahomaGovernor of OklahomaThe 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...
- adjutant generalAdjutant generalAn Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
- Oklahoma National GuardOklahoma National GuardThe Oklahoma National Guard, a division of the Oklahoma Department of the Military, is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components. The Governor of Oklahoma is Commander-in-Chief of the Oklahoma National...
- United States National GuardUnited States National GuardThe National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...