Stitt Names Chris Schinnerer Oklahoma Energy Secretary as Starling Exits Oct. 3

Oklahoma’s energy leadership is shifting. Gov. Kevin Stitt announced that Energy and Environment Secretary Jeff Starling will leave his post on Oct. 3, with Deputy Secretary Chris Schinnerer stepping in to serve the remainder of the governor’s term. Starling has held the role since 2024, and Stitt credited him with progress on permitting and keeping Oklahoma’s energy industry in the national conversation.

Schinnerer arrives with a resume that spans both sectors. He has worked at Devon Energy and Lagoon Midstream, and he served in the George W. Bush administration. Stitt highlighted Schinnerer’s work on a U.S. Department of Energy grant tied to a Nuclear Energy Lifecycle Campus, a signal that Oklahoma wants a role in nuclear power alongside its traditional oil and gas strength.

For Lawton-area families, especially those connected to Fort Sill or working energy jobs, this transition is about more than a title change. State energy policy shapes jobs, tax revenue, and utility costs across southwest Oklahoma. The state’s stated direction is continuity plus ambition: keep producing oil and gas while investing in emerging technology.

What do you want Oklahoma’s next energy secretary to prioritize? Let us know in the comments.