Michael C. Thompson
Encyclopedia
Colonel Michael C. Thompson (ANG) is an American
military
officer and police officer
from Oklahoma
. Thompson is currently serves in the Oklahoma Highway Patrol
with the rank of OHP Major and is a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard
with the rank of Colonel. Governor-elect
Mary Fallin
has nominated Thompson to serve as the dual-hatted role of Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security
as well as Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
in her Administration.
. He holds a masters degree in applied science from Oklahoma State University and a masters degree in national security and strategic studies from the United States Army War College. Thompson has graduated from both the FBI National Academy
and the United States Secret Service
National Threat Assessment Center.
Thompson has served over a decade in the Oklahoma Highway Patrol
, currently serving with the rank of OHP Major. As OHP Major, Thompson serves as a Zone Commander for the Patrol and has jurisdiction over the Lawton, Altus, Clinton, McAlester and Durant field commands. Thompson is also an active member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard
with the rank of Colonel. As an Army Colonel, Thompson serves as the commander of the 90th Troop Command for the Army Guard. As an Army officer, Thompson has been awarded the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman Badge
after his two tours of duty during the Iraq War. He also received the Humanitarian Service Medal
after his deployment to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
.
On December 20, 2010, Governor-elect Mary Fallin
announced that she has selected Thompson to serve in the dual-hatted role of Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security
as well as Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
in her Administration. If confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate
, Thompson will be the first African American to serve in either position.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
officer and police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
from 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...
. Thompson is currently serves in 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...
with the rank of OHP Major and is a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard
Oklahoma Army National Guard
The Oklahoma Army National Guard is the Army National Guard component of the Oklahoma National Guard. The Commander in Chief of the Oklahoma National Guard is the Governor of Oklahoma, who appoints the State Adjutant General , a Major General from either Army or Air. Currently, the TAG is Major...
with the rank of Colonel. Governor-elect
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...
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....
has nominated Thompson to serve as the dual-hatted role of Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security
Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security
The Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security 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 public safety and...
as well as 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...
in her Administration.
Biography
Thompson earned a bachelors degree from Langston UniversityLangston University
Langston University is an institution of higher learning located in Langston, Oklahoma, USA. It is the only historically black college in the state, and the westernmost historically black college in the United States...
. He holds a masters degree in applied science from Oklahoma State University and a masters degree in national security and strategic studies from the United States Army War College. Thompson has graduated from both the FBI National Academy
FBI National Academy
The FBI National Academy is an independent program for U.S. and international law enforcement leaders. The first session began on July 29, 1935, with 23 students in attendance. At the time, professional development for law enforcement leaders was largely non-existent. The program focuses on...
and the United States Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
National Threat Assessment Center.
Thompson has served over a decade in 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...
, currently serving with the rank of OHP Major. As OHP Major, Thompson serves as a Zone Commander for the Patrol and has jurisdiction over the Lawton, Altus, Clinton, McAlester and Durant field commands. Thompson is also an active member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard
Oklahoma Army National Guard
The Oklahoma Army National Guard is the Army National Guard component of the Oklahoma National Guard. The Commander in Chief of the Oklahoma National Guard is the Governor of Oklahoma, who appoints the State Adjutant General , a Major General from either Army or Air. Currently, the TAG is Major...
with the rank of Colonel. As an Army Colonel, Thompson serves as the commander of the 90th Troop Command for the Army Guard. As an Army officer, Thompson has been awarded the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
after his two tours of duty during the Iraq War. He also received the Humanitarian Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
The Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under...
after his deployment to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
.
On December 20, 2010, Governor-elect 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....
announced that she has selected Thompson to serve in the dual-hatted role of Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security
Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security
The Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security 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 public safety and...
as well as 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...
in her Administration. If 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....
, Thompson will be the first African American to serve in either position.