Governor Names New Secretary of Energy and Environment

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin today announced the appointment of Col. Michael Teague to the position of secretary of energy and environment. Teague will begin in his new role on Sept. 3 of this year.

The position of secretary of energy and environment is new, combining the positions of secretary of energy, previously held by Michael Ming, and secretary of environment, previously held by Gary Sherrer.

Fallin said the two policy areas are linked, making it practical to combine them under one cabinet post.

"Strong energy policy is strong environmental policy," said Fallin. "In Col. Teague's new role, his mission will be to help develop policies that encourage energy exploration and production as well as responsible environmental stewardship. His years of experience dealing with energy production and distribution, infrastructure development, and water management will serve him well as Oklahoma's first secretary of energy and environment. I am proud to have him on my team."

Col. Michael Teague of Bixby is the former Tulsa District commander of the Army Corps of Engineers. Teague is retiring from the military at the end of this month.

Before serving as Tulsa district commander, Teague served as the director of engineering for the Third U.S. Army Central (ARCENT), where he was responsible for supporting all U.S Army units in the Middle East. Teague has also served as the commander for the 52nd Engineer Battalion in Ft. Carson, Colorado and Mosul, Iraq. As battalion commander, Teague was the chief executive officer of a 600 person engineering and construction organization in support of the 101st Airborne Division as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Teague is the current president of the Tulsa Post of the Society of American Military Engineers.

He has many awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal.

Teague received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Norwich University in Northfield, VT., where he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. He also received a master's degree in operations analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School and a master's in national security and strategic studies at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I.