Ricky G. Adams

Ricky G. Adams is an American police officer and soldier with the Army National Guard from the state of Oklahoma. Adams currently serves as its 26th Chief of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in the administration of Governor of Oklahoma Mary Fallin, having been appointed by Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security Michael C. Thompson in 2013. In addition to his service with Highway Patrol, Adams holds the rank of Major General in the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

Ricky G. Adams earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1992 and a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in 2000. Adams joined the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in 1986 as a graduate from the 42nd OHP Academy after serving 6 years with the Elk City, Oklahoma and Edmond, Oklahoma city police departments. Upon assuming office in 2011, Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security Michael C. Thompson appointed Adams to serve his chief non-uniformed deputy as Assistant Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. In 2013, Secretary Thompson appointed Adams as the 26th Chief of the Highway Patrol in 2013, succeeding Kerry Pettingill.

Adams received his commission with the Oklahoma National Guard's Officer Candidate School in 1982 after serving three years as an enlisted member of the 45th Field Artillery Brigade. During his service, Adams has served as Deputy Assistant Commandant of the United States Army Field Artillery School, the Deputy Commanding General of Fort Sill, and as Assistant Adjutant General of the Oklahoma Army National Guard. As Assistant Adjutant General, Adams advised the Adjutant General of Oklahoma on the oversight of training, administration, logistics, and personnel actions of the Guard's land forces. A combat veteran of the Afghanistan War, during a 2006 tour of duty in Afghanistan, Adams served as Director of the Police Reform Directorate for the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan. Currently holding the rank of Major General, Adams was appointed as the Deputy Commanding General for National Guard at United States Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Eustis in 2011.

Adams resides in Edmond, Oklahoma, and is married to Cathy and has two daughters and five grandchildren.