Youngblood Named New Data Services Division Administrator

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- Marq Youngblood, a 21-year veteran of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, has been named Division Administrator for the OKDHS Data Services Division. In his new duties, he will lead a staff of 200 plus and the administration, management and operations of one of the state's largest information system networks, interfacing more than 8,000 personal computers/computing devices, 150 local area network servers and the Department's computer mainframe infrastructure.
This promotion moves Youngblood to the 32-member OKDHS Executive Team which oversees administrative operations of the agencies $1.2 billion budget and 8,000 employees statewide.

"Our division has plenty of operational and directional challenges ahead of us, and we have a staff that is more than capable of meeting these challenges," said Youngblood. "An example of this is the success we experienced with our Y2K project. The 240,000 hours invested during the last three years paid off with no operational challenges in our informational systems workflow."

Youngblood began his career with OKDHS in November 1978 as a tape librarian. He has worked in OKDHS computer operations, teleprocessing, application programming and system programming. Before being named division administrator, Youngblood served as the administrator of the OKDHS state network operations.

Leading the department’s network stabilization efforts the last few years, Youngblood managed the creation and execution of the department’s network strategic plan and the installation of the first mainframe-based relational database system in OKDHS. Youngblood lead the team that designed, coded and implemented the computerized Focus time/leave system used by OKDHS staff from 1988 to 1999.

Youngblood replaces acting Data Services Administrator Larry Harmon who is OKDHS Associate Director for Administration. "Larry Harmon and Deputy Division Administrator Charles Milistefr have worked well in concert and I look forward to continuing that relationship with Milistefr," said Youngblood. "Thanks to them I am confident with the Department’s Y2K readiness."

According to Harmon, "Marq Youngblood brings a wealth of knowledge and years of experience to this position. We’re at a point in history where technology is advancing by leaps and bounds and I’m glad we have someone like Marq to help lead OKDHS through whatever innovations and challenges the future may bring."

A graduate of Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City, Youngblood holds an associate degree in business technology from Rose State College, a bachelors in family studies from Southern Nazarene College and a masters in human relations from the University of Oklahoma. He has also completed course work at Oklahoma Baptist University and is a candidate for certified public manager.

In March 1993, Youngblood founded the Family of God Fellowship Church where he continues to serve as pastor. He oversees the church’s weekly feeding and financial assistance programs. He also implemented a leadership development program earlier this year. In addition, Youngblood mentors and counsels troubled youth and married couples.

Doris, his wife of 21 years, works at Tinker Air Force Base. They have three children, Shantaniel, 19, a pre-med sophomore at OU, Marquett Jamell, 18, a freshman at OU majoring in sports medicine, and Christian, 9.

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