Yesterday, Oklahomans were shocked by Governor Stitt’s announcement that he was promoting General Thomas Mancino to serve as Oklahoma’s Adjutant General and Commander of the Air and Army National Guard. Why was everyone shocked? Because we currently have someone in that role, General Mike Thompson. He’s held the top spot for the past 4 years, succeeding my friend and fellow Rotarian, Gen. Myles Deering.

General Thompson enlisted in the Guard in 1983 and gained his commission after completing Officer Candidate School (OCS) in 1986. In addition to his military service to our state, General Thompson also had a distinguished career in the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, rising all the way to Commissioner for the Department of Public Safety and Cabinet Secretary for Safety and Security with oversight over all of Oklahoma’s law enforcement agencies.

Today, in an interview with KOCO TV’s Dillon Richard’s, I was horrified to discover that Governor Stitt did not tell General Thompson he was being replaced. The General literally found out through Twitter. 😡

Edit: I have since been informed that General Thompson did receive a call from the Governor to inform him he was being replaced and to thank him for his service. What he learned via Twitter is just who would replace him.

What a dishonorable way to treat a service veteran of ANY rank, much less someone of General Thompson’s caliber, rank, and extensive service to our state.

For the record, I’d like to thank General Thompson for his service to our state and his leadership to our troops.