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 FBI National Academy. 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.

Lieutenant Colonel Jack McCoy was a member of the 42nd OHP Academy, graduating in 1986. His original assignment was to Troop B where he was assigned to the Tulsa Interstate detachment and later transferred to the Creek County detachment. In 1993 he was transferred to the Mayes County detachment of Troop L, where he served until his promotion in 1998 to Lieutenant and assigned to the Will Rogers Turnpike.

In 2003 LTC McCoy was promoted to Captain. In this capacity, he served stints as the Troop Commander of Troop B (Tulsa), Troop L (Vinita) and as the Commander of the Emergency Response Team (ERT), until being promoted to Major in 2013. As a Major, LTC McCoy was the Zone Commander over various field troops, the Capitol Complex, the Emergency Services Unit (ESU) and the Incident Management Team (IMT).

Major Eric Cannaday serves as the commander for Zone 8 and has oversight of Patrol Operation in Troops C and E, located in Muskogee and Durant. In this capacity, Cannaday serves as the Turnpike Liaison and 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 Radford Paul Christian serves as the Zone 6 commander which consists of Troop SO – Special Operations, Troop BT – Bomb Squad, Troop O – Aircraft, Troop R – Capital Patrol, and the Evidence Division.

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 Zone 5 Commander which includes Troop C- Muskogee, Troop D-McAlester, and Troop E-Durant.

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 Brent S. Jones serves as Commander of Zone 5. He has direct oversight responsibility for Executive Security and Training. He also serves on the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training Advisory Council.

Jones was appointed to the Patrol on January 30, 1995, as a member of the 48th Academy. Upon graduating from the Patrol Academy, he was assigned to Troop F, Garvin County Detachment. He transferred to Troop SO, Interstate 35 Detachment, on August 10, 1998. He transferred to Troop ES, Executive Security, on November 2, 2001. He transferred to Troop Z, Investigations, on August 1, 2007. On February 1, 2008, Jones was promoted to Lieutenant and Designated Supervisor of Troop Z, Investigations.

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 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.

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.

Major Joe Williams serves as Zone 3 Commander, which encompasses Troop-A, Oklahoma City, Troop F, Ardmore, and Troop D, McAlester.

Williams began his career with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol on January 30, 1995, as a member of the 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 the rank of Lieutenant, and assigned to Troop G. On October 15, 2015, Williams transferred to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office where he served as the Statewide Impaired Driving Liaison, and the Statewide Occupant Protection Liaison.