Oscar B. Jackson Jr. (born July 9, 1947) is an American

civil servant The civil service is a collective term for a sector of government composed mainly of career civil servants hired on professional merit rather than appointed or elected, whose institutional tenure typically survives transitions of political leaders ...

from the state of

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

. Jackson was the last

Oklahoma Secretary of Human Resources and Administration 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 s ...

, having served in that position from when he was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma David Walters in 1991 until the office was abolished in 2012. With over twenty years of continuous service, Jackson is the longest serving Cabinet Secretary in State history. Jackson served under three different Governors spanning both political parties: Democrat David Walters, Republican Frank Keating, Democrat

Brad Henry Charles Bradford Henry (born July 10, 1963) is an American lawyer and politician who was the 26th governor of Oklahoma from 2003 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002. Henry won re-election for a second term ...

, and Republican Governor Mary Fallin. In addition to his service as Human Resources and Administration Secretary, Jackson served concurrently as the Administrator of the

Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management The Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management (OPM) was an agency of the government of Oklahoma which was dissolved in 2011. OPM managed the civil service of the state government. OPM previously provided comprehensive human resource services to all ...

until that position was abolished in 2011.

Biography

Jackson has a bachelor's degree in Business Education from the University of Oklahoma, and has completed graduate work in Public Administration, with an emphasis in public personnel administration. In 2005, he was selected as an inaugural member of the University of Oklahoma College of Education Alumni Hall of Fame.

Secretary of Human Resources and Administration

In 1991, Jackson was appointed Secretary of Human Resources by Democratic Governor of Oklahoma David Walters. Jackson has since remained in that position under two more administrations: Frank Keating (1995–2003) and

(2003 – 2011). At the same time, Jackson was appointed by Governor Walters to serve as the Administrator of the

, having him direct control over that Office. Both Keating and Henry retained Jackson in that position as well. Jackson was one of three Cabinet Secretaries appointed by former Governor Frank Keating to be held over by Governor

, the others being: Health and Human Services Secretary

Howard Hendrick Howard Hendrick (born December 22, 1954) 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. ...

and Veterans Affairs Secretary

Norman Lamb Sir Norman Peter Lamb (born 16 September 1957) is a British politician and solicitor. He was the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament (MP) for North Norfolk from 2001 to 2019, and was the chair of the Science and Technology Select Committee ...

. As the Secretary, Jackson was charged with providing comprehensive administrative and human resource services to all state agencies and employees, such as overseeing all purchasing, the state motor fleet, state building construction and maintenance, and state employee salaries, benefits and employment securities. He had supervision over the

. On November 22, 2010 Governor-elect Mary Fallin announced that she would retain Secretary Jackson in both of his positions as Cabinet Secretary and as OPM Administrator. He would continue to serve in that capacity until his position was dissolved in 2012.

References

External links

Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet
1947 births Living people State cabinet secretaries of Oklahoma Heads of Oklahoma state agencies University of Oklahoma alumni {{Oklahoma-politician-stub