Oklahoma Public Safety Commissioner Michael C. Thompson was promoted Tuesday from colonel to brigadier general in the Oklahoma Army National Guard, becoming the first black general officer to serve in the state Guard.

Oklahoma Public Safety Commissioner Michael C. Thompson was promoted Tuesday from colonel to brigadier general in the Oklahoma Army National Guard, becoming the first black general officer to serve in the state Guard.

He said that at every step of his career supportive people have stepped up to encourage him and help him on his way.

"My career is a reflection of all the people I've served with," he said.

Thompson gave as an example the time he saw officers handling the messy and smelly job of burning outhouse waste. They could have assigned the task to lower-ranking personnel but chose to support their subordinates and lead by example.

"That's the sort of people I've been surrounded with for 30 years," he said. "That's why I'm here."

He said his goal has been to try his best to be as prepared as possible when opportunity came his way.

Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, who also was at the promotion ceremony at the Oklahoma History Center, praised Thompson for his service in protecting residents, both in his military career and as an Oklahoma Highway Patrol officer. He also said Thompson, who is usually the tallest man in the room, evokes a famous quote by Theodore Roosevelt: "Speak softly and carry a big stick."

"That's easy when you're 6-foot-8," Lamb said.

Thompson, 51, enlisted in the National Guard 31 years ago as a supply specialist. He also went to work as a prison guard with the state Corrections Department. He went to Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an Army second lieutenant.

Taking classes at night and on weekends, he completed his bachelor's degree in criminal justice at Langston University, and went on to earn a master's degree in applied science from Oklahoma State University and a master's in strategic studies from the Army War College.

He deployed to Kuwait in 2003 and participated in the invasion of Iraq. In 2005, he deployed to New Orleans to assist with Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. He went back to Iraq in 2007 and served as the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team's executive officer.

He and his wife, Debbie, have been married for 30 years and have two sons.

(c)2014 The Oklahoman