The Adjutant General shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall serve during the pleasure of the Governor. No person shall be eligible to hold the office of the Adjutant General of this state, unless, at the time of appointment, he or she is a federally recognized officer of the National Guard of Oklahoma, and of the National Guard of the United States, not below the rank of Colonel, and that the status as a federally recognized officer, both of the National Guard of Oklahoma and of the National Guard of the United States, shall have existed for at least three (3) years prior to the time of such appointment; or unless, within two (2) years prior to the time of the appointment, he or she has been a federally recognized officer of the National Guard of Oklahoma, and of the National Guard of the United States, not below the rank of Colonel, and that during military service he or she served for a period of three (3) years as a federally recognized officer, both of the National Guard of Oklahoma and of the National Guard of the United States; provided that if the National Guard of Oklahoma is in active federal service and no persons having the above qualifications are available within the state, then the Governor may appoint, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, any suitably qualified person who at any time in the preceding ten (10) years would have been qualified, as above, and who has served at least two (2) years in active federal service in the grade of Colonel or higher.

Added by Laws 1951, p. 115, art. 2, § 4, emerg. eff. May 16, 1951. Amended by Laws 1971, c. 290, § 1; Laws 2006, c. 254, § 1, eff. July 1, 2006.