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Oklahoma Director of Wildlife Conservation
| Oklahoma Director of Wildlife Conservation | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $162,266 |
| 2024 FY Budget: | $78,288,155 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the Wildlife Conservation Commission |
| Authority: | Oklahoma Constitution, Article 26, Section 1 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by Wildlife Conservation Commission |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Oklahoma Director of Wildlife Conservation
Wade Free | |
| Other Oklahoma Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Oklahoma Director of Wildlife Conservation is an appointed position in the Oklahoma state government. The director is selected by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission to serve as head of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.[1]
Current officeholder
The acting Oklahoma Director of Wildlife Conservation is Wade Free (nonpartisan). Free assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is established in Article 26, Section 1 of the Oklahoma Constitution.[2]
Article XXVI, Section 1:
| There is hereby created a Department of Wildlife Conservation of the State of Oklahoma and an Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. The Department of Wildlife Conservation shall be governed by the Wildlife Conservation Director, hereinafter created, under such rules, regulations and policies as may be prescribed from time to time by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. Such rules and regulations and amendments thereof shall be filed and recorded in the office of the Secretary of State, and shall become effective on the tenth (10th) day following such filing. |
Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications for this office.
Appointments
The director is appointed by a majority vote of the entire Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission.[2]
Vacancies
Under Article 6, Section 13 of the Oklahoma Constitution in the event of a vacancy in the office the governor appoints a person to serve until a successor is either elected or appointed and qualified by law.[2]
Duties
The specific duties of the office are outlined in Title 29 of the Oklahoma Statutes:[3]
| “ |
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| —§29-3-105 of the Oklahoma Statutes (2011)[3] | ||
Divisions
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is organized into six main divisions:[1]
- Administrative
- Federal Aid
- Fisheries
- Information and Education
- Law Enforcement
- Wildlife
State budget
- See also: Oklahoma state budget and finances
The budget for the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission in Fiscal Year 2024 was $78,288,155.[5]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $162,266, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $152,757, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the director received a salary of $149,762, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the director received a salary of $145,400, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the director received a salary of $140,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the director received a salary of $135,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the director received a salary of $135,644, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the director received a salary of $135,644, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the director received a salary of $123,032, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the director received a salary of $123,033, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the director was paid an estimated $121,986. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.[16]
2010
In 2010, the director was paid an estimated $123,033, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Oklahoma Director of Wildlife Conservation has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Oklahoma Director Wildlife Conservation. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Physical address:
1801 N. Lincoln
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 53465
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
Phone: (405) 521-3851
See also
| Oklahoma | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, "About the ODWC," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Oklahoma State Legislature, "Oklahoma Constitution," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Oklahoma State Legislature, "Oklahoma Statutes," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Oklahoma.gov, "FY 2025 Executive Budget," accessed January 22, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 27, 2021
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed January 27, 2021
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