City Manager
Appointed by the City Council, the City Manager is the chief administrative officer of the City.
Oklahoma City has a Council-Manager form of government. The City Manager coordinates and directs City activities, carries out policies set by the City Council and exercises control over all City employees except those appointed by the City Council (City Auditor, Municipal Counselor, Municipal Judges and the Mayor's office staff). The City Manager presents the annual budget to the Mayor and Council and provides professional recommendations to help the City Council develop policy.
The Public Information & Marketing Office and MAPS Project Office are divisions of the City Manager's Department. Other functions include economic development and special projects.
Craig Freeman took office as the City Manager on Jan. 2, 2019. He can be reached at (405) 297-2345 or craig.freeman@okc.gov.
About City Manager Craig Freeman
Craig Freeman was appointed City Manager of the City of Oklahoma City on Nov. 20, 2018, officially taking office Jan. 2, 2019.
The City Manager is the top staff member in Oklahoma City's Council-Manager form of government. The City Manager oversees day-to-day operations, a staff of 5,117 employees and a budget of $918 million.
Craig Freeman was the City Finance Director from 2011 until his appointment as City Manager in 2018. He started his career with the City of Oklahoma City in 1992 in the Budget Office. He served as Budget Director for 10 years and Finance Director for 7 years.
Since his appointment as City Manager, Freeman has directed the City's COVID-19 response, American Rescue Plan Act funding, the launch of MAPS 4, the Law Enforcement Police Taskforce policy recommendations, Homelessness Task Force and Human Rights Task Force.
Freeman holds a master's degree in urban affairs from the University of Central Oklahoma and bachelor's degrees from Oklahoma Baptist College and UCO.
Freeman is a lifelong Oklahoma City metro resident. He and his wife, Rhonda, have sons Chris and Nick, and daughter-in-law Haley; daughter Whitney and son-in-law Stephen; and grandsons Landon, Grayson, Carson and Rayland.
Freeman succeeded James D. Couch as City Manager. See a list of previous City Managers.
Assistant City Managers
Four Assistant City Managers support the City Manager.
- Aubrey McDermid oversees Parks and Recreation, Planning, Public Information, Development Services and venue contract facilitation. She may be reached at (405) 297-2345 or aubrey.mcdermid@okc.gov.
- Brent Bryant oversees Finance, Public Works, Utilities, MAPS and the Equity program. She may be reached at (405) 297-2345 or brent.bryant@okc.gov.
- LaShawn Thompson oversees Airports, General Services, Human Resources, City Clerk, Municipal Court and Zoo. She may be reached at (405) 297-2345 or lashawn.thompson@okc.gov.
- Jason Ferbrache oversees Police, Fire, Information Technology, Public Transportation and Parking and law enforcement policy implementation. He may be reached at (405) 297-2345 or jason.ferbrache@okc.gov.