J.D. Strong

Last updated
J.D. Strong
Executive Director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board
Assumed office
October 12, 2010

J.D. Strong (born 1971) is a civil servant from the U.S. state of Oklahoma and the current executive director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB). As executive director of the OWRB, Strong is responsible for carrying out the agency's mission to protect and enhance the quality of life for Oklahomans by managing and improving the state's water resources to ensure clean and reliable water supplies, a strong economy, and a safe and healthy environment. Under Strong's leadership, the OWRB updated the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan, a 50-year water supply assessment and policy strategy to meet Oklahoma's future water needs. Strong also oversees administration of Oklahoma's AAA-rated $3 billion Financial Assistance Program, which assists more than two-thirds of Oklahoma communities and rural water districts in financing water infrastructure projects. Other significant programs under Strong's direction include the administration of almost 13,000 water rights permits allocating some 6 million acre-feet of stream and groundwater, hydrologic studies, licensure of water well drillers, floodplain management, dam safety, and a water quality management program that includes establishment of standards and statewide monitoring of lakes and streams. Strong represents Oklahoma on the Western States Water Council and Chairs its Water Quality Committee, and also serves as Oklahoma's Commissioner on four congressionally approved interstate water Compact Commissions.

Contents

Strong has served three governors of Oklahoma in various capacities since 1996: Republican Frank Keating, Democrat Brad Henry, and Republican Mary Fallin. Under the Henry Administration, Strong served as Henry's Secretary of the Environment. As Secretary, Strong oversaw also environmental protection and wildlife conservation programs of the State.

Education and early career

A fifth generation Oklahoman, Strong graduated as valedictorian from Weatherford High School in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He earned a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University in Wildlife Ecology with a minor in Agronomy in 1993. While finishing his degree at OSU, Strong began working at the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, where he worked as an environmental scientist for several years. In 1996, Strong was appointed a special assistant to the Secretary of the Environment.

In his twelve years at the Office of the Secretary of the Environment, Strong served as the lead advisor to three different Environmental Secretaries for two Governors. In this capacity, he coordinated both the Governor's Tar Creek Superfund Task Force and the Governor's Animal Waste and Water Quality Protection Task Force under then Governor Frank Keating. Strong was also actively involved in efforts to address interstate water pollution concerns, particularly regarding excess phosphorus pollution in watersheds shared with the state of Arkansas. Strong has worked with northern Ottawa County officials on a massive buyout assistance program to relocate families and businesses from the nation's most hazardous Superfund Site—the Tar Creek Superfund Site in Picher, Oklahoma. [1]

Prior to his serving as Environmental Secretary, Strong served as the Office of the Secretary of the Environment's chief liaison to the Oklahoma Legislature before becoming the chief of staff to former Secretary of the Environment Miles Tolbert in 2003.

Secretary of the Environment

Strong was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry as his second Secretary of the Environment. Strong succeed Miles Tolbert, who resigned to take a position in the private sector. In addition to serving as Governor Henry's lead advisor on environmental matters, Strong coordinated the activities of the Environmental Subcabinet, as well as oversaw the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. [2]

Executive director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board

Strong was appointed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board as its executive director in October 2010 while serving as Secretary of the Environment. [3] Upon the election of Republican governor Mary Fallin, Strong was replaced as secretary by Fallin appointee Gary Sherrer. Strong retained his position as OWRB executive director, however, despite the election of a new governor.

Personal life

Strong, his wife, Kalli, and their daughter, Edyn, live in southwest Oklahoma City where they are active in the Yukon, Oklahoma, public school system, their neighborhood association, their daughter's pom squad, and their local church.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Keating</span> American politician

Francis Anthony Keating II is an American attorney and politician who served as the 25th governor of Oklahoma from 1995 to 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Fallin</span> American politician

Mary Fallin is an American politician who served as the 27th governor of Oklahoma from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, she was elected in 2010 and reelected in 2014. She was the first and so far only woman to be elected governor of Oklahoma. She was the first woman to represent Oklahoma in Congress since Alice Mary Robertson in 1920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jari Askins</span> American politician

Jari Askins is an American judge, lawyer and Democratic politician from the US state of Oklahoma. She was the 15th lieutenant governor of Oklahoma, being the second woman and the first female Democratic Party member to hold that position.

Terry L. Cline is an American psychologist and public health policy specialist from Oklahoma. Cline resigned on October 30, 2017 from the Oklahoma State Department of Health. He has served in various positions under Governors of Oklahoma Frank Keating (R), Brad Henry (D), and Mary Fallin (R). Cline resigned his position after financial mismanagement was discovered within the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Oscar B. Jackson Jr. is an American civil servant from the state of Oklahoma. Jackson is the current Oklahoma Secretary of Human Resources and Administration, having served in that position since he was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma David Walters in 1991. With almost twenty years of continuous service, Jackson is the longest serving Cabinet Secretary in State history.

Howard Hendrick is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Hendrick was serving as the Oklahoma Secretary of Human Services, having been appointed by Democratic Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality</span>

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is a department of the government of Oklahoma under the Governor of Oklahoma. It is responsible for protecting human health and for safeguarding the natural environment: air, water, and land. DEQ is chiefly responsible for the environmental policy of Oklahoma. It is governed by a thirteen member Environmental Quality Board appointed by the Governor, which in turn appoints an Executive Director to administer the Department.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Water Resources Board</span>

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) is an agency in the government of Oklahoma under the Governor of Oklahoma. OWRB is responsible for managing and protection the water resources of Oklahoma as well as for planning for the state's long-range water needs. The Board is composed of nine members appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate. The Board, in turn, appoints an Executive Director to administer the agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Conservation Commission</span>

The Oklahoma Conservation Commission is an agency of the government of Oklahoma under the Governor of Oklahoma. It is the duty of the Commission to conserve Oklahoma's land and water. The Commission is also responsible for upstream flood control protection, a state-funded conservation cost-share program, reclamation of abandoned mine land and non point source water quality monitoring, planning, and management, in addition to a variety of educational and informational activities.

Terri L. White is Chief Executive Officer of the nonprofit Mental Health Association Oklahoma, as of August 2020. She is an American social worker who resigned effective February 1, 2020 as Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, a position she has held since May 13, 2007. White previously served Democratic Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry as a member of his Cabinet concurrent to her service as commissioner. White served as Henry's fourth Secretary of Health, becoming the first woman in State history to hold that post. Upon the election of Henry's successor, Republican Mary Fallin, White ceased being a member of the governor's Cabinet but retained her position as commissioner.

Brian C. Griffin is an American businessman from Oklahoma who currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Clean Energy Systems, a private Rancho Cordova, California-based energy technology innovations firm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael J. Hunter</span> American politician

Michael J. Hunter is an American politician from the state of Oklahoma. Hunter served as the Secretary of State of Oklahoma from 1999 to 2002, having been appointed by Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating. On November 1, 2016, he was appointed to the same post by Governor Mary Fallin. He also served as Special Counsel to the Governor. On February 20, 2017, Hunter was appointed Attorney General of Oklahoma to replace Scott Pruitt who resigned to become the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. On November 8, 2018, Hunter won election as Attorney General.

Miles Tolbert is an American lawyer from the state of Oklahoma who served as the Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment in the Cabinet of Governor Brad Henry. Tolbert was appointed by Henry in 2003 and served until his resignation in 2008. Tolbert was succeeded by J.D. Strong, Tolbert's chief of staff, as Secretary.

Gary Sherrer is an American Democratic politician from Oklahoma. Sherrer served two terms as Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment under Republican Governors Frank Keating (1995-1997) and Mary Fallin (2011-2013). Sherrer also served as Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture under Democratic Governor David Walters from 1989 to 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment</span>

The Oklahoma Secretary of Environment 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 environmental policy development and implementation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism</span>

This page relates the history of the position of Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Secretary of Human Resources and Administration</span>

The Oklahoma Secretary of Human Resources and Administration was a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. Prior to its dissolution in 2012, the Secretary was appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary served as the chief advisor to the Governor on managing the operations and personnel needs of the State government.

Preston Doerflinger is an American businessman and politician who was the Oklahoma Secretary of Finance and Revenue. Doerflinger was appointed by then Governor of Oklahoma Mary Fallin on January 19, 2011. Prior to his appointment, Doerflinger served as the city auditor for Tulsa, Oklahoma from 2009 until this appointment as secretary. Shortly thereafter he was also named the Director of the newly created Office of Management and Enterprise Systems. In his role as Secretary of Finance he was the Governor’s lead budget executive and negotiator. He was appointed by the governor as the Interim Commissioner of Health in October, 2017 while maintaining his roles as Cabinet Secretary and Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Systems. He resigned from all of his roles in Oklahoma State government in February 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Easley</span> American politician

Kevin Easley is an American oil and gas executive who was a leading legislator in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate for 18 years and the top executive at the Grand River Dam Authority for seven years in the U.S. State of Oklahoma. He is the President and Chief Executive Officer of New Dominion, LLC, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Cullison</span> American politician (1936–2021)

Robert Virl Cullison was an American politician who served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 74th district from 1973 to 1979, in the Oklahoma Senate from the 34th district from 1979 to 1995, and as President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate from 1988 to 1995, as a member of the Democratic Party.

References

  1. ↑ Office of Secrerary Strong. "Official biography of Secretary Strong" (PDF). State of Oklahoma. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-06-04.
  2. ↑ Office of Governor Henry (2008-08-20). "Gov. Henry names Strong environmental secretary". State of Oklahoma. Archived from the original on June 9, 2009.
  3. ↑ Oklahoma Water Resources Board (2010-10-12). "J.D. Strong Approved As New Water Board Director". Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
Political offices
Preceded by Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment
Under Governor Brad Henry
August 20, 2008 - January 14, 2011		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.