“We will make sure that the transition is smooth and that we don’t disrupt any kind of services there,” Stitt said.

“Here is what has happened,” the governor said. “I want Oklahomans to know this. They elected me to do things differently, so we are bringing new people into these boards and we are bringing new thoughts into the management of these state agencies.”

Stitt said he wants board members to dig into the details and question and challenge executive directors.

“Sometimes the pressure and the heat, you know, starts intensifying and you will see folks that decide they would rather go and do something else, and that is fine,” Stitt said.

He said he handpicked his members on the Board of Corrections.

Scott Crow, chief of operations, was named interim director.

The agency for years has suffered from inadequate staffing and funding and crumbling facilities.

Oklahoma leads the nation in incarceration rates.

Allbaugh was hired as interim DOC director in January 2016. He became the full-time director in July 2016.