Slavonic served as director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs

Today, Governor Kevin Stitt named Retired Rear Admiral Gregory Slavonic as Interim Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS). This comes after the Legislature voted to remove the Governor’s previous appointee in a late-night vote.

“It is no secret that the Department of Mental Health has long been in need of reform,” said Gov. Stitt. “It is imperative that Admiral Slavonic is allowed to do the hard work needed to remove corruption and conflicts of interest without political interference. There are brighter days ahead for this department and those that rely on its services. I’m grateful to Admiral Slavonic for his willingness to set another Oklahoma agency on the right course.”

Admiral Slavonic previously served as the director for the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs under Governor Stitt. The department had long been plagued by financial mismanagement and distractions from the department’s core mission.

“I’m grateful that Governor Stitt is so keenly focused on rooting out corruption and ensuring that government is working first and foremost for the citizens we are tasked with serving,” said Admiral Slavonic. “The Department of Mental Health brings much needed services to many Oklahomans, and I look forward to ensuring that they have the tools needed to provide those services. I thank Governor Stitt for trusting me with this effort.”

Prior to state service, President Trump appointed Slavonic to serve as assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs. He previously served as deputy and principal assistant to the secretary of the Navy, and as chief operating officer and chief management officer for the Department of the Navy. He served in the U.S. Navy for 34 years.

He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and received a master’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma.

House Select Committee Chair Comments on Mental Health Department Appointment

OKLAHOMA CITY – Majority Leader Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, released the following statement regarding the Governor’s appointment today of Retired Rear Admiral Gregory Slavonic as the head of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Lawson serves as the chair of the House Select Committee to Review Mental Health Finances. 

“It is imperative that the next director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services work to restore stability, confidence and trust in the agency and its ability to provide critical services to Oklahomans while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. By all accounts, Admiral Slavonic has served his country and state well and I look forward to working with him as he endeavors to right the ship with this agency.”