Governor Mary Fallin on Thursday announced she is appointing Michelann Ooten to serve as director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM). Ooten, the agency’s deputy director, will replace Albert Ashwood, the nation’s longest-tenured state director, who is retiring Aug. 31.
Ooten has 17 years of experience with OEM, including serving the last seven years as deputy director.
Ooten helps manage OEM, which works to minimize the effects of disasters and emergencies that occur in the state through preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation programs.