OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today announced the appointment of Wes Lane as chairman of the Department of Human Services Commission.
The governor appointed Lane to the DHS Commission in September and since then he has served as chairman of a DHS Commission special subcommittee to review cases of child abuse and neglect.
"Since his appointment to the DHS Commission, Wes Lane has proven himself a dedicated advocate for Oklahoma's children and our most vulnerable citizens," Fallin said. "In his new role as chairman of the DHS Commission, I expect Wes to continue to work toward implementing reforms at DHS – including the Pinnacle Plan to improve the child protection system – that will help improve the agency and the services it provides."
Lane is president of the Burbridge Foundation, a foundation dedicated to solving problems that impact families. He served for 21 years in the Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office, including five and a half years as district attorney. He oversaw the office's juvenile division and personally handled hundreds of DHS child welfare cases. Lane earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma and a law degree from the OU College of Law.
Lane replaces Brad Yarbrough, who resigned as DHS commission chairman in June. Yarbrough remains as a member of the DHS Commission.
