Legislator Guidance
The OSMPC can be found in Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5401 of Title 74, first created through House Bill 1396 in the First Session of the 49th Legislature.
The commission receives legislative updates at each monthly meeting from our Senate and House of Representatives Appointed Members.
Our legislative members are Senator Warren Hamilton and Representative Josh West.
Senator Warren Hamilton
Sen. Warren Hamilton was first elected to the state Senate in 2020 to represent District 7, which includes communities in Haskell, Latimer, Pittsburg, southern Sequoyah & northwest Leflore counties. Hamilton is the first Senator in state history from McCurtain, Oklahoma. He joined the Army in 1989 when he reported to the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He graduated in 1993 and reported to flight school at Fort Rucker, AL., earning his wings in 1994. He flew AH-1 Cobras at Fort Bliss and Fort Carson, and scout helicopters in Bosnia and Fort Polk, LA, serving as a platoon leader, company commander and liaison officer.
In 2001, he was selected by the Army to serve as the Army exchange pilot to the Marine Corps. Upon completion of the Instructor Pilot course at Fort Rucker, he reported for duty at Camp Pendleton. From 2001 to 2005, he flew AH-1W Cobras (twin engine) operationally with Marine Light Attack elicopter Squadron 367, serving as an instructor and flight lead, and in a variety of leadership positions. His squadron deployed to Japan, Thailand, the Philippine Islands, ultimately to Iraq.
Representative Josh West
Josh was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2016, where he represents House District 5. Josh has served on the leadership team since 2018 and is the current Majority Floor Leader.
Josh and his wife Elizabeth live in Grove with their 4 children: Ethan, Walker, Katie and Aubrey. Elizabeth is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and she owns and operates West Counseling and Strategy.
Josh has always had a heart to serve, and in 1996 he joined the United States Army, graduating basic training in 1997. During his time in the United States Army he was deployed multiple times, to include deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. On 16 October 2003, Josh was critically wounded in a firefight in Karbala Iraq. Josh was shot multiple times in both thighs, stomach and suffered a traumatic brain injury. During this firefight his Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Kim Orlando was killed along with Sergeant Joseph Bellavia and Corporal Sean Grilley. For his actions that night in Iraq, West earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with “V” device for Valor.
Josh was invited to the White House in March of 2019 for an executive order signing, as President Trump implemented the PREVENTS program, focusing on Veterans suicide. In August of 2019, Josh was awarded the inaugural Military Police Order of the Marechaussee Steel Award at a ceremony at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
His military awards and decorations include the following:
- Bronze Star (V)
- Purple Heart
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Army Commendation Medal (V)
- Army Commendation Medal (4th Award)
- Army Achievement Medal (3rd Award)
- Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award)
- National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award)
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- NCOPD Ribbon (2nd Award)
- Army Service Ribbon
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Iraqi Campaign Medal
- Combat Action Badge
- Air Assault Badge
- Expert Field Medical Badge
