On Monday, December 2, a promotional ceremony was held at the Robert R. Lester Training Center promoting 17 within the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The group is made up of three captains and 14 lieutenants who will enjoy new assignments throughout the state.

Along with Col. Ricky Adams (front row, left) and Commissioner Mike Thompson (back row, right), those promoted included Lt. Alan Beaty (front row, left), Lt. Stephen Pothorst, Lt. Jay Clary, Lt. Richard Losurdo, Lt. Harold Collins, Lt. Daniel Moreno, Lt. Betsy Randolph, Lt. Ron Hamilton, Lt. Radford Christian and Lt. Gabriel Leach. Lt. Harold Aldridge (back row, left), Lt. Mark Brown, Cpt. Jason Holt, Lt. Eric Brown, Cpt. John Starling, Cpt. Brent Sugg and Lt. Brian Orr.

Oklahoma Department of Public Safety Commissioner and Cabinet Secretary, Michael C. Thompson, has announced that Assistant Commissioner Ricky Adams will replace COL Kerry Pettingill as the 26th Chief of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol effective November 1, 2013. Adams will be pinned Chief in a ceremony scheduled for 9:00 a.m. tomorrow at the DPS Headquarters in Oklahoma City.

Commissioner Thompson said, "Ricky Adams is a proven and capable leader and is dedicated to leading the Oklahoma Highway Patrol with the highest degree of integrity." Prior to this assignment, Adams served as the Assistant Commissioner of DPS for the past 31 months and has held every rank within the Patrol. "I am very excited for the future of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol," said Thompson.

Adams has served as a professional law enforcement officer for over 33 years. He served at the local level with the Elk City and Edmond Police Departments before joining the ranks of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in 1986, graduating from the 42nd Oklahoma Highway Patrol Academy as the Honor Graduate. Adams also attended the 204th Session of the FBI National Academy in 2001. His distinguished 27 year career with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has been hallmarked by stellar leadership as a commander at every level within the organization and is credited with many agency wide achievements.

Adams said of his new position as the 26th Chief, "I'm extremely honored at being asked to serve in this capacity. Growing up in western Oklahoma, I got to know some of our local troopers very well through church and our high school. I had the opportunity to attended the Cadet Lawman Academy between my Junior and Senior year in high school. It was during that time that I decide law enforcement was my calling and being a trooper my goal. Now, being asked to lead the very organization that so greatly influenced me as a young man is very humbling."

"It is a great honor to have been asked to serve as the 26th Chief of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The respect and traditions of our agency has been earned and maintained by the selfless dedication to duty of our members, both past and present. I pledge to be a good steward of that tradition and ensure that our path is firmly grounded in our Core Mission and Values as we move into this 21st century," said Adams.

Notably, Adams is also a combat veteran serving with the Oklahoma Army National Guard for over 35 years. He currently holds the rank of U.S. Army Major General and is assigned as the Deputy Commanding General for National Guard, at US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Fort Eustis, Virginia. Adams has served as the Oklahoma Assistant Adjutant General, State Land Component Commander, the Deputy Commanding General (ARNG) at Fort Sill, and the Deputy Assistant Commandant of the US Army Field Artillery School, a 2006 combat tour in Afghanistan as the Director - Police Reform Directorate Afghanistan and formerly commanded the 45th Field Artillery Brigade and 171st Field Artillery Battalion MLRS. He has received the Legion of Merit twice and the Bronze Star Medals.

Adams holds a Master's of Strategic Studies Degree from the US Army War College and a Bachelor from the University of Central Oklahoma. He is also a graduate of the CAPSTONE Program at the National Defense University, National Security Management Course at Syracuse University, the Army Strategic Leadership Advanced Courses, JTF Commander Course, Joint Flag Officer War Fighting School, Harvard University's Black Sea Security Program and General & Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, to name a few.

Adams resides in Edmond Oklahoma and is married to Cathy and has two daughters and four grandchildren.

Oklahoma's Own Ride Against Childhood Hunger

OHP and DPS will be teaming up with The Regional Food Bank and KWTV News Channel 9 to ride against childhood hunger.

For more information, Click Here

Congratulations to the Graduating Class of the 61st Academy

Oklahoma City, OK - Department of Public Safety officials announce the graduation of the 61st Oklahoma Highway Patrol Academy.

Graduation and commissioning ceremonies for forty new Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers will be held Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at the Memorial Road Church of Christ at 2221 E. Memorial Road in Edmond.

Five female cadets will graduate on Thursday, increasing the OHP female ranks state-wide by 33%. This will bring the total number of female state troopers to an all-time high of twenty.

"We congratulate all of these new troopers on their hard work and dedication," said DPS Commissioner Mike Thompson.

OHP Chief, Colonel Kerry Pettingill said, "These men and women have shown that they have what it takes to be a part of our organization and we welcome them to our family."

The next phase of training for the graduates of the 61st OHP Academy will consist of three months of field training with a senior trooper.

Of the forty graduates, eight are military veterans, six with overseas combat experience. They come to the Patrol from all over the state with work experiences ranging from pipe fitting to landscaping. Their ages range from 23 to 35.

Commissioner Thompson challenged the graduating class to begin their public safety careers by getting involved with community service activities. The cadets chose to accept that challenge and are personally donating and collecting box fans for needy Oklahomans which will be collected after graduation by KFOR's Scott Hines and the Salvation Army.

Proudly Protecting Oklahoma: The 75th Anniversary of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol is now on sale

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