Kerry Pettingill
Encyclopedia
Kerry Pettingill is currently an American
police officer
in the state of Oklahoma
. Early on in his career, Pettingill joined the Oklahoma Highway Patrol
and has since served in a number positions. Pettingill served as the Oklahoma’s State Homeland Security Director for seven years. In January 2011, the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
, Michael C. Thompson, announced that he had selected Pettingill to serve as Chief of the Highway Patrol.
(OHP) to his current rank of Chief. Throughout his tenure, Kerry has served in specialized positions utilizing his training as a bomb technician, hazardous materials technician and in tactical operations. He served as commander of the OHP Bomb Squad and Tactical Teams, as liaison to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force
(JTTF), and Deputy Director of Homeland Security.
It is his experiences tracking and apprehending criminals, executing high risk warrants, conducting render safe procedure
s on Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), developing intelligence contacts, assisting in the establishment of the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security
and being one of the first on the scene of the Alfred P. Murrah
Building bombing on April 19, 1995 that led Governor Brad Henry to appoint him as his Homeland Security Director in January 2004. As the Oklahoma Homeland Security Director, Kerry oversees a diverse staff at the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security
(OKOHS) that has made great strides in the areas of prevention, protection and preparedness since its inception.
Kerry serves on numerous professional appointments such as the National Infrastructure Protection Plan
(NIPP): State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Government Coordinating Council, the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium: State Administrative Agency Advisory Council, the Governor’s Campus Life and Safety and Security Task Force (CLASS), and the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisory Council.
During his distinguished career, he has received numerous notable awards including the Governor’s Commendation, two Commissioner’s Commendations, the Medal of Valor from the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police and the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Commendation for Bravery. Kerry is a graduate of the 39th OHP Academy, Leadership Oklahoma Class XIX, FBI National Academy, FBI Hazardous Devices School and has his Bachelor of Science from Southern Nazarene University
.
On January 6, 2011, Michael C. Thompson, Commissioner-desingee of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
, announced that he had selected Pettingill to succeed outgoing Van M. Guillotte as Chief of the Highway Patrol. His appointment will become effective February 1, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
in 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...
. Early on in his career, Pettingill joined the Oklahoma Highway Patrol
Oklahoma Highway Patrol
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is a major state law enforcement agency of the government of Oklahoma. It is a division of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was legislatively created in 1937 due to the growing problem of motor vehicle accidents, the expansion of a...
and has since served in a number positions. Pettingill served as the Oklahoma’s State Homeland Security Director for seven years. In January 2011, the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety is a department of the government of Oklahoma. Under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security, DPS provides for the safety of Oklahomans and the administration of justice in the state...
, Michael C. Thompson, announced that he had selected Pettingill to serve as Chief of the Highway Patrol.
Career
Kerry has served the people of the State of Oklahoma for more than a quarter of a century. Beginning as a State Trooper in 1982 he has risen in the Oklahoma Highway PatrolOklahoma Highway Patrol
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is a major state law enforcement agency of the government of Oklahoma. It is a division of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was legislatively created in 1937 due to the growing problem of motor vehicle accidents, the expansion of a...
(OHP) to his current rank of Chief. Throughout his tenure, Kerry has served in specialized positions utilizing his training as a bomb technician, hazardous materials technician and in tactical operations. He served as commander of the OHP Bomb Squad and Tactical Teams, as liaison to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force
Joint Terrorism Task Force
A Joint Terrorism Task Force is a partnership between various U.S. law enforcement agencies that is charged with taking action against terrorism, which includes the investigation of crimes such as wire fraud and identity theft...
(JTTF), and Deputy Director of Homeland Security.
It is his experiences tracking and apprehending criminals, executing high risk warrants, conducting render safe procedure
Render safe procedure
The render safe procedure is the portion of the explosive ordnance disposal procedures involving the application of special explosive ordnance disposal procedures, methods and tools to provide the interruption of functions or separation of essential components of unexploded ordnance to prevent an...
s on Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), developing intelligence contacts, assisting in the establishment of the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security
Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security
The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security is an agency of State of Oklahoma that is responsible for reducing the State's vulnerability to acts of terrorism and for minimizing and recovering the damage caused by terrorist attacks...
and being one of the first on the scene of the Alfred P. Murrah
Alfred P. Murrah
Alfred Paul Murrah was an American attorney and judge. The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which was named after him, was destroyed in the April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City bombing.-Early life and education:...
Building bombing on April 19, 1995 that led Governor Brad Henry to appoint him as his Homeland Security Director in January 2004. As the Oklahoma Homeland Security Director, Kerry oversees a diverse staff at the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security
Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security
The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security is an agency of State of Oklahoma that is responsible for reducing the State's vulnerability to acts of terrorism and for minimizing and recovering the damage caused by terrorist attacks...
(OKOHS) that has made great strides in the areas of prevention, protection and preparedness since its inception.
Kerry serves on numerous professional appointments such as the National Infrastructure Protection Plan
National Infrastructure Protection Plan
The National Infrastructure Protection Plan is a document called for by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7, which aims to unify Critical Infrastructure and Key Resource protection efforts across the country. The latest version of the plan is 188 pages long and was released in January 2009...
(NIPP): State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Government Coordinating Council, the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium: State Administrative Agency Advisory Council, the Governor’s Campus Life and Safety and Security Task Force (CLASS), and the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisory Council.
During his distinguished career, he has received numerous notable awards including the Governor’s Commendation, two Commissioner’s Commendations, the Medal of Valor from the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police and the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the...
Commendation for Bravery. Kerry is a graduate of the 39th OHP Academy, Leadership Oklahoma Class XIX, FBI National Academy, FBI Hazardous Devices School and has his Bachelor of Science from Southern Nazarene University
Southern Nazarene University
Southern Nazarene University is a Christian liberal arts college located in Bethany, Oklahoma, United States.-History:The history of the institution is one of various mergers and, therefore, one of differing institutions. While SNU claims its founding date as 1899, that founding date refers to an...
.
On January 6, 2011, Michael C. Thompson, Commissioner-desingee of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety is a department of the government of Oklahoma. Under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security, DPS provides for the safety of Oklahomans and the administration of justice in the state...
, announced that he had selected Pettingill to succeed outgoing Van M. Guillotte as Chief of the Highway Patrol. His appointment will become effective February 1, 2011.