Tom Bates is a seasoned, solutions oriented leader and attorney who has repeatedly been entrusted with leading state agencies through times of crisis and transition as well as overseeing some of Oklahoma's most complex initiatives. 

 

Most recently, during his five years as Director of  the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, he successfully led staff and board members through eliminating a backlog of 3,000 commutation applications. During his tenure the agency   modernized processes, transitioned to a new operating system, and managed 18 sensitive clemency cases involving death row inmates. 

 

Tom's extensive public service portfolio also includes key legal and governmental roles: he served as an assistant attorney general, including as Unit Chief of the Oklahoma Multi-County Grand Jury under former Attorney General Drew Edmondson. He later served as Unit Chief for Public Protection as well as First Assistant Attorney General under A.G. Scott Pruitt. In over 15 years at the AG's office he gained valuable experience in leading high performing teams and successfully litigated numerous high profile civil and criminal cases. 

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He was a special advisor to former Gov. Mary Fallin, where he worked to successfully implement The Pinnacle Plan, a landmark effort to reform Oklahoma's foster care system. He worked closely with foster parents, DHS staff, and group home providers to ensure the care of children in state custody. In this role he also oversaw Fallin's Oklahoma Fosters initiative which was responsible for recruiting 1,000 new foster parents in a single year. 

 

As Interim Commissioner he successfully led the Oklahoma State Department of Health through a fiscal crisis and managed the restaffing of county health departments that ensured the continued delivery of core services across the state. He also oversaw the implementation of the state's medical marijuana program through the creation of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority.  

 

Gov. Kevin Stitt tapped him to spearhead the "Front Porch" initiative, a state-level reform designed to coordinate Oklahoma's health and human services agencies to make it easier for citizens to access state resources.

 

In all of these roles, Tom managed complex relationships with key stakeholders, elected leaders and media. 

 

Bringing his trademark integrity, professionalism and sound judgment to his private practice, Tom assists state agencies, counties, municipalities, businesses and non-profits with navigating complex legal issues, as well as times of difficult organizational and operational change.

 

A man of deep faith, Tom is a fourth generation Oklahoman and lifetime member of Leadership Oklahoma. He and his wife Kathleen have four children and four grandchildren that take up most of their spare time.