Okla. Stat. tit. 69, § 69-4007: Director - Powers and duties

A. The administrative head of the Department of Transportation

shall be the Director of the Department of Transportation. The

Director shall be an individual with a background of broad

experience in the administration and management of complex public

works or other comparable organizational structures, and who shall

be appointed by the Commission and serve at the pleasure of the

Commission. He shall have the authority and duty to supervise,

direct, account for, organize, plan, administer and execute the

functions of the Department consistent with the general policies and

procedures prescribed and established by the Commission. Any

statutory references to the State Highway Director in Title 69 of

the Oklahoma Statutes shall mean the Director of the Department of

Transportation.

B. The Director shall employ a professional civil engineer who

shall have broad experience in design and construction of complex

highways or other transportation-related projects. This engineer

shall be responsible to the Director for the management of all

engineering functions of the Department.

C. This act shall not affect the status and rights accrued

under the State Merit System of Personnel Administration or the

Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System to persons serving as

employees of any Department, Commission, Authority or other state

agency who become employees of the Department of Transportation

through the passage of this act.