Oklahoma – Governor Kevin Stitt has appointed retired Rear Admiral Gregory Slavonic as the interim commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS). This decision follows the Legislature’s late-night vote to remove the Governor’s previous appointee.
“It is no secret that the Department of Mental Health has long been in need of reform,” Gov. Stitt said. “It is imperative that Admiral Slavonic is allowed to do the hard work needed to remove corruption and conflicts of interest without political interference. There are brighter days ahead for this department and those that rely on its services. I’m grateful to Admiral Slavonic for his willingness to set another Oklahoma agency on the right course.”
Admiral Slavonic previously served as director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs under Governor Stitt, where he worked to address longstanding issues of financial mismanagement and refocus the department’s mission.
“I’m grateful that Governor Stitt is so keenly focused on rooting out corruption and ensuring that government is working first and foremost for the citizens we are tasked with serving,” Slavonic said. “The Department of Mental Health brings much needed services to many Oklahomans, and I look forward to ensuring that they have the tools needed to provide those services. I thank Governor Stitt for trusting me with this effort.”
Before his state service, Slavonic was appointed by President Donald Trump as assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs. He also served as deputy and principal assistant to the secretary of the Navy, chief operating officer, and chief management officer for the Department of the Navy. His military career spans 34 years of service in the U.S. Navy.
