Latest news with #Slavonic
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
There's a long road ahead for interim leader at ODMHSAS
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – On Wednesday, Governor Stitt said he believes that the new interim Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) Commissioner, Rear Admiral Gregory Slavonic, can do the job. 'I mean, he's not a mental health expert, and he's more of a business person. He's somebody that I think can do the job,' said Gov. Stitt. Retired Admiral Slavonic has a long road ahead after a bumpy first one to two years from the now former Commissioner Allie Friesen. The agency faces dozens of millions of dollars that are missing from their budget, along with questions surrounding payroll, past, present, and future. 'What's the job description? Who are we supposed to hire? Because it gets hard when some of these good people you're asking to come from the private sector to serve. I try to find the very best people because these are big CEO type jobs,' said Gov. Stitt. Governor Stitt names Interim Commissioner of ODMHSAS Slavonic has been put in a leadership role before to clean up a department. Most recently, he led the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA). Non Doc reported that back in 2023, Slavonic righted the ship for the ODVA when the agency faced turmoil a year prior. Slavonic was named interim executive director for them in March of 2023 and would eventually become the executive director. According to Non Doc, the previous director, Joel Kintsel, had refused to attend meetings of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission, and he was eventually fired. Some positives seen during his time there included working with lawmakers to approve millions for a construction project in Sallisaw and improving morale among the agency's approximately 1,400 employees. 'When the legislature fired Ali, that's when we went out. We tried to find the very best person who would come in and take this job,' said Gov. Stitt. However, the problems seen at ODMHSAS are a lot larger than what the ODVA seemed to have. 'You've got 2000 employees, you run an $800 million budget. My direction is to hold these vendors accountable and to make sure the dollars are being used correctly and efficiently. To make sure that we're being good stewards of the Oklahoma tax dollars,' said Gov. Stitt. '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.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Governor Stitt names Interim Commissioner of ODMHSAS
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Governor Kevin Stitt has named an Interim Commissioner of Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS). According to the Governor's Office, retired Rear Admiral Gregory Slavonic has been chosen after the Senate and House voted to remove former commissioner Allie Friesen following various budget issues. RELATED STORY: Oklahoma lawmakers override record number of vetoes, remove Stitt appointee in dramatic end to legislative session '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.' Officials say Admiral Slavonic has served as director for the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs under Stitt. RELATED STORY: Senate votes to remove ODMHSAS Commissioner Allie Friesen, will now go through the House '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.' According to the Governor's Office, President Trump previously appointed Slavonic to serve as assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs. He has also 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Stitt appoints interim commissioner of mental health agency after previous leader's firing
A familiar face to embattled state agencies is taking on his latest assignment as interim commissioner for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, days after lawmakers ousted the agency's previous leader. Greg Slavonic was placed in temporary charge of the financially troubled mental health agency by Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday, June 3. Slavonic will be tasked with turning around a state agency riddled with drama after an audit report on the mental health department released in May revealed that its staff was made to sign nondisclosure agreements and were discouraged from cooperating with investigators from the state auditor's office, which was trying to understand why the agency faced a $30 million budget hole. Allie Friesen, the agency's former commissioner, was removed from her position after lawmakers voted to oust her on May 29. It was the culmination of a monthlong legislative investigation into the agency's money troubles. Legislators were forced to make a special appropriation for the agency to complete the current fiscal year. Still, another appropriation to the agency might be needed at the beginning of the next legislative session. It will be the second time in as many years that Slavonic takes over an agency under similar circumstances. Stitt appointed Slavonic as interim executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs in March 2023 after the agency's former director, Joel Kinstel, was removed for revolting against the agency's commission. Slavonic was elevated to permanent leadership in the agency five months later, before he left in July 2024. Stitt, who called Friesen's removal "a politically motivated witch hunt," said he was grateful Slavonic was willing "to set another Oklahoma agency on the right course." In an apparent reference to lawmakers' oversight of the mental health agency, Stitt said it would be imperative that Slavonic be allowed to work "without political interference." "There are brighter days ahead for this department and those that rely on its services," the governor said in a statement. More: Legislature passes resolution seeking to oust Oklahoma mental health commissioner In a statement, Slavonic thanked Stitt for his focus on rooting out corruption and ensuring the government is working for its citizens. "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," he said. House Majority Leader Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, who served as the chair of the select committee tasked with examining the agency's operations and budget, responded to Slavonic's appointment and said it's important that the mental health agency's next director works to restore the department's stability and trust to provide critical services. Lawson said he looked forward to working with Slavonic "as he endeavors to right the ship with this agency." The governor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the status of appointing a permanent commissioner to the agency, who would need to be confirmed by the Senate. Slavonic held several roles in Washington, D.C., before working under Stitt. After retiring from the U.S. Navy as a rear admiral, Slavonic had a brief stint in the private sector before he served as chief of staff for U.S. Sen. James Lankford. He then went on to high-level civilian roles in the Department of the Navy, eventually being appointed acting undersecretary of the Navy during President Donald Trump's first term. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Gov. Stitt appoints Greg Slavonic to lead Oklahoma mental health agency
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Interim Oklahoma mental health commissioner named
Gov. Kevin Stitt, pictured March 12 speaking at a rally outside the state Capitol, named an inteirm commissioner for the Oklahoma mental health department Tuesday. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt named an interim commissioner of the Oklahoma mental health department Tuesday, following the Legislature's vote to fire the previous agency head last week. Retired Rear Admiral Gregory Slavonic was appointed by Stitt. He previously led the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, which had been 'plagued' by financial mismanagement, according to a news release. Former Commissioner Allie Friesen had served in the role since her January 2024 appointment, but her time as the agency's leader was marred by financial disarray, investigations and audits. Friesen blamed prior administrations for the financial situation that required a cash infusion from lawmakers. The Oklahoma Legislature overwhelmingly voted to fire her in a late-night vote Thursday. Lawmakers said they had 'lost confidence' in her ability to lead the department and removed her, effective immediately. Stitt continued to stand by Friesen throughout her time as commissioner amid calls to fire her and said she was 'shining a light on an agency that has operated in darkness for far too long.' He called the Legislature's move to fire her a 'politically motivated witch hunt.' 'It is no secret that the Department of Mental Health has long been in need of reform,' Stitt said in a statement. '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.' Slavonic served in the U.S. Navy for over three decades, including 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 also served as assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs as an appointee of President Donald Trump during his first term. 'I'm grateful that Gov. 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,' Slavonic said in a statement. '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 Gov. Stitt for trusting me with this effort.' Slavonic graduated from Oklahoma State University with bachelor's degree and from University of Central Oklahoma with a master's degree. Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, leads a select committee investigating the mental health department's finances and said he looks forward to working with Slavonic. '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,' he said in a statement Tuesday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Associated Press
25-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
AirMatrix Appoints Former Under Secretary of the Navy Gregory J. Slavonic as Board Member
04/25/2025, Miami, Florida // PRODIGY: Feature Story // AirMatrix is pleased to announce the appointment of the Honorable Gregory J. Slavonic, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (retired), and former Acting Under Secretary of the Navy, to the AirMatrix Board of Directors. Admiral Slavonic brings over three decades of distinguished military service, having retired as a Rear Admiral after a 34-year career in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve. His service includes combat deployments in Vietnam, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Notably, he served as the Navy's sixth Special Assistant to the Chief of Information and Director of the Public Affairs Program (Reserve). In the civilian sector, Admiral Slavonic has held senior leadership roles, including Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator James Lankford and executive positions in the communications industry. He also served as the Executive Director of the Jim Thorpe Association and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. As Acting Under Secretary of the Navy, Admiral Slavonic served as the deputy and principal assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, overseeing intelligence activities, special access programs, and critical infrastructure within the Department. His extensive experience in both military and civilian capacities aligns with AirMatrix's mission to enhance airspace management and safety through advanced technology. 'AirMatrix is bringing much-needed innovation to mission-critical domains. I look forward to supporting their work as they continue building advanced solutions that enhance operational safety and efficiency,' said Admiral Slavonic. AirMatrix is at the forefront of developing AI-powered command and control platforms for modern cities and critical infrastructure. The company's Libra platform provides real-time situational awareness across air, land, and sea, tracking drones, aircraft, vehicles, and potential threats in complex environments. The appointment of Admiral Slavonic as a Board Observer enhances AirMatrix's strategic expertise across multiple sectors, with a focus on the defense and security verticals. As the company expands within the industry, including recent partnerships in the Middle East, Admiral Slavonic's background will support AirMatrix's efforts to work with global allies on forward-looking security and infrastructure strategies. About AirMatrix AirMatrix specializes in AI-driven command and control solutions designed to bring structure to unstructured environments. By providing comprehensive situational awareness across multiple domains, AirMatrix empowers cities, regulators, and agencies to operate more safely and efficiently. Note: For additional information about Admiral Gregory J. Slavonic's background and achievements, please refer to his officialNavy biography. Bashir Khan | CEO of AirMatrix [email protected] Source published by Submit Press Release >> AirMatrix Appoints Former Under Secretary of the Navy Gregory J. Slavonic as Board Member
