Leadership

Colonel Patrick F. Mays is the 29^th Chief of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, appointed to that position on September 10, 2021. Prior to that, he served as the Chief of Administration for the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.

Colonel Mays is a graduate of the 49^th Patrol Academy, graduating in July of 1997 and received his first assignment in Troop B, Tulsa. He was then promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to Troop Z – Internal Affairs/Investigations Division. Later, he was promoted to Captain and transferred to the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security. After a short tour there, Colonel Mays became the Troop Commander for the Executive Security troop and commanded both the Governor’s security detail and the Lieutenant Governor’s security detail. In 2011, he was promoted to the rank of Major and assigned as the Zone Commander for Zone 3, which included the OHP Training Division, Patrol Academy, Special Operations Division, Command Post Operations and the State Traffic Homicide Unit. In December of 2017, Colonel Mays assumed command of Zone 7 which included all of the state turnpike troops, Command Post operations and the State Traffic Homicide Unit. In September of 2019, Colonel Mays was appointed by then Commissioner John Scully to the position of Chief of Administration/Assistant Commissioner and he served in this capacity until September of 2021.

Colonel Mays began his career in public safety in 1976 as a member of the Mountainside Rescue Squad in Mountainside, New Jersey. He and his family moved to Oklahoma in 1978 where he became a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician in 1980. In 1983, Colonel Mays became a police officer for the Wagoner Police Department and graduated from the basic police academy administered by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training. He remained a municipal police officer for 14 years before joining the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in February of 1997.

Colonel Mays served in the United States Navy from 1991 until 2012. He retired in 2012 from the Navy Reserve as a Chief Petty Officer, Chief Master-At-Arms. He is a graduate of the 256^th Session of the FBI National Academy and the 45^th Session of the FBI National Executive Institute. Colonel Mays graduated from Oklahoma State University with an Associate Degree in Police Science and a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Emergency Responder Administration.

Lieutenant Colonel Jason Holt began his career in law enforcement with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in 2002. Early assignments included patrol and criminal investigations. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2008, Captain in 2013, Major in 2019, and to Deputy Chief in 2021. He has also been assigned as the agency’s Polygraph Program Coordinator since 2013. He currently oversees the day-to-day operations of the agency’s patrol operations.

A graduate of Webbers Falls High School, LTC Holt completed his Associate of Science Degree from Connors State College, and his Bachelor and Master of Business Administration degrees from Northeastern State University. He also holds multiple professional licenses including a polygraph examiner license, armed private investigator license, armed security guard license, and a state real estate associate license.

LTC Williams currently serves as Deputy Chief of Operations, encompassing the field and Turnpike Troops.

Williams began his career with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol on January 30, 1995, as a member of the “OHP” 48th Academy. After graduating from the Academy, he was assigned to Troop H, Rogers Mills County. Williams spent six years in Troop H before transferring to Troop G, Comanche County. On February 1, 2008, Williams was assigned to Executive Security. On June 15, 2012, Williams was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to Troop G. On October 15, 2015, Williams transferred to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, serving as the Statewide Impaired Driving Liaison and the Statewide Occupant Protection Liaison.

Major Eric Cannaday serves as the commander for Zone 3 which includes Troop D - McAlester, and Troop E - Durant. In this capacity, Cannaday also maintains administrative and financial oversight of the Futures, Capabilities, and Plans Division. Cannaday is also the Governor’s law enforcement appointee to the Governmental Technology Applications Review Board.

Cannaday joined the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in May of 2002 and graduated from the 54th Academy in October of that same year. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Cherokee and Adair County detachment in Troop C. While assigned to Troop C, Cannaday transferred to Muskogee County and accepted an additional duty position with the Troop C Fatality Investigation Unit.

Major Jack Choate serves as the Commander for Zone 5 which includes Troop B - Tulsa, Troop C - Muskogee, and Troop L - Vinita.

Major Choate began his career with the Department of Public Safety as a communications officer in Communications Center in Oklahoma City in 1986 before entering the 46th OHP academy in 1991. He was assigned to Troop L-Rogers county where he remained until he was promoted to LT in 2005. He served as a Lieutenant in Troops YA/YB/YE, L, B, and finally XB,XE before being promoted to Captain in 2021. Choate served as Troop Commander in Troop D/XC-McAlester and Troop B-Tulsa before being promoted to Major in 2024. 

Choate has served on the Troop L fatality investigation team, is a collision reconstructionist, and has served as a Field Training Trooper and Field Training Supervisor. He has also served as an LEDT (law enforcement drivers training) instructor since 1998.

Major Radford Paul Christian serves as the Commander for Zone 6 which consists of Troop SO – Special Operations, Troop T -Training, and the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.

Christian joined the Patrol on March 30, 1999, as a member of the 51st Oklahoma Highway Patrol Academy. After graduating from the Academy, he was assigned to Troop H, Custer County Detachment. On May 1, 2005, he transferred to Troop SO as a criminal interdiction/K9 handler assigned to the west Interstate 40 detachment. Christian transferred to Troop V Officer Assistance Program on August 12, 2013. On December 1, 2013, he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to Troop H East Detachment as a field supervisor. On September 1, 2018, Christian was promoted to Captain and assigned to Troop SO as the Special Operation/Asset Forfeiture Commander.

Major Jansen Idlett serves as the Commander for Zone 7 which includes Troop O - Aircraft Operations, Troop S - Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcment, and Troop W - Marine Enforcement.

Prior to working for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Idlett served as a Patrol Deputy with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office and a K-9 officer with the Lexington Police Department.

Idlett began his career with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in 2005 graduating from the 55th Oklahoma Highway Patrol Academy. Idlett served as a field Trooper in Troop F- Carter and Love County and Troop A- Cleveland, McClain, and Oklahoma Counties. In 2013, Idlett was assigned to Troop W Marine Enforcement and worked Lake Thunderbird in Cleveland County.

Major Joseph Lang serves as the Commander for Zone 1 which includes Troop G - Lawton, Troop M - Altus, Troop H - Clinton, Troop I - Guymon, and Troop F - Ardmore.

Major Lang began his career with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol on June 1, 2000, as a member of the 52nd Patrol Academy. After graduating from the Academy, he was assigned to Troop I, Beaver County. In February of 2001, Lang was transferred to Troop F, Carter and Love Counties. On March 1, 2002, Lang received an Additional Duty assignment as a Tactical Team member. Lang became a Defensive Tactics Instructor in 2002 and a firearms Instructor in 2004. Lang spent 6 years in Troop F before transferring to Troop G, Grady County late in December of 2007. In 2009 Lang received an intra troop transfer to Stephens and Jefferson Counties within Troop G. In 2013 Lang transferred to Troop A, Oklahoma County. January 1, 2015, Lang was promoted to Lieutenant assigned to Troop A Metro. On July 1, 2016, Lang was transferred to the Training Division as a Lieutenant over the Defensive Tactics program. On November 1, 2018, Lang was promoted to the rank of Captain and was assigned as the Troop Commander of Troop J/Enid.

Major Nathan Mackey serves as the Commander for Zone 2 which includes Troop A-Oklahoma City, Troop K-Perry, and Troop J-Enid.

Before beginning his career with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Mackey served as a Master Officer with the Lawton Police Department.

Mackey joined the Oklahoma Highway Patrol on March 30th, 2007, as a member of the 57th Academy. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Stephens and Jefferson County Detachment of Troop G. In 2016, Mackey transferred to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office where he served as an Impaired Driving Liaison. In 2018, Mackey was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned to Troop G.

Major Jason Matheson serves as the Director of Communications. He has direct oversight responsibility for the six Oklahoma Highway Patrol Communications Centers located across the state.

Matheson was appointed as a communications officer in the Oklahoma City Communications Center on May 8th, 2000. On January 1st, 2004, he was promoted to sergeant and assigned to Troop G Communications in Lawton. On July 1st, 2006, he was promoted to lieutenant and assigned as the center manager of Troop G Communications. On August 1st, 2008, he was assigned as the executive officer of Troop A Communications in Oklahoma City. On June 1st, 2010, he was assigned as the center manager of Troop K Communications in Perry.

Major Garrett Vowell serves as the Commander for Zone 4 which includes all of the Turnpikes in Oklahoma.

Garrett L. Vowell has served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for the past 24 years. He began his career with the Department of Public Safety as a State Trooper and has promoted through the ranks serving as a Lieutenant, Captain, and now as Major.

As a State Trooper, Vowell served on the Emergency Response Team (ERT), as a Law Enforcement Driver Training (LEDT) instructor, as a Field Training Trooper (FTT), and as a K-9 handler with the Special Operations Division.

As a Lieutenant, he served as a field supervisor and as a special service supervisor. He also served as a field training supervisor, and as a counselor in OHP academies.