Ohio Department of Public Safety Director's Office

Thomas J. Stickrath

Director, Ohio Department of Public Safety

On May 26, 2010, Governor Ted Strickland appointed Thomas Stickrath to serve as the Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. In this cabinet-level position, Director Stickrath advises the Governor and staff on issues relating to the divisions within ODPS. These include an Administration division, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Medical Services, Homeland Security, Office of Criminal Justice Services, Ohio Investigative Unit, Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Traffic Safety Office.

Prior to his appointment, Stickrath served the criminal justice and public safety fields in various roles. He was the Acting Director of Public Safety for a brief time in 2002, and was named the Interim Director of what was then the Governor’s Office of Criminal Justice Services twice, before it became a division of Public Safety. All of this experience has given him a unique understanding of the Department’s divisions and mission.

He most recently served as the Director of the Ohio Department of Youth Services. At Youth Services, Stickrath instituted an aggressive agenda of reform that improved all aspects of the agency including facility operations, assessments of when youths were ready to be released, and consistency in parole decisions. The initiatives have resulted in enhanced facility safety and expanded programming designed to help those released from the system succeed when they return home.

Prior to becoming DYS director, Stickrath served as assistant director of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC), which is where his career in criminal justice originally began in 1978 when he was a legal services assistant for DRC. In 1979, he became the chief inspector and developed and directed the departmental auditing system and internal affairs program. As his career with DRC and corrections continued, Stickrath helped restructure the department's correctional mental health care system and developed it into a national model. Stickrath was also instrumental in forming the Correctional Accreditation Association of Ohio (CAAO) and with the drafting of the first-ever performance-based standards for adult community residential services. Stickrath also served as a regional director, warden and chief inspector for DRC.

Stickrath is dedicated to advancing professionalism in public safety through his membership in various organizations including the American Correctional Association (ACA), the Ohio Correctional and Courts Services Association, the North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents, the Ohio Wardens Association and the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice. He has served as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice, and in 1996, he was appointed to serve a four-year term on the ACA Standards Committee, helping to promulgate national standards for his profession. He has authored numerous articles and book chapters on a variety of correctional topics, and has lectured extensively throughout the country. Stickrath received a degree in Business Administration from The Ohio State University in 1976, and graduated from Ohio State’s College of Law in 1979.

George T. Maier

Assistant Director, Ohio Department of Public Safety

On May 21, 2007, Massillon native George T. Maier was appointed to serve as the Assistant Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

With nearly 30 years of experience in law enforcement administration and operations support, as well as a strong commitment to community involvement and cooperation, Maier was appointed to one of the largest agencies in the state to help the Department build collaborative relationships with local, state and federal partners to promote statewide highway safety and public safety goals and initiatives.

As part of his administration's efforts to establish a more comprehensive, coordinated approach to combating prescription drug abuse across Ohio, Governor Ted Strickland appointed Maier to serve as chair of the Ohio Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force (OPDATF). Established through a Governor's Executive Order in April 2010, this working group of federal, state and local partners is charged with researching the prescription drug abuse issue and identifying public health, law enforcement, legislative and additional strategies to reduce the danger of prescription drug abuse in Ohio.

A 24-year veteran with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Maier retired in May, 2007 as Jackson District Commander - a position he held since his promotion to Captain in 2004. He began his career with the Ohio State Highway Patrol in 1983 as a trooper assigned to the Wooster Post, and was a member of the 112th Cadet Class of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy. During his career, he served in assignments at the Massillon, Cambridge, New Philadelphia and Steubenville Posts. He also previously served as Steubenville Post Commander (1998-2002) and Massillon District Assistant Commander (2002-04).

Maier received State Trooper of the Year, District Trooper of the Year and Post Trooper of the Year honors in 1991 and was a past recipient of the Blue Max “Ace” Auto Larceny Award as well as a state award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his active involvement in community and educational programs. Prior to joining the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Maier served two years as an officer with the Hartville Police Department in Stark County. He is a graduate of the 108th Session of the University of Louisville's Administrative Officers Development Course at the Southern Police Institute.

Maier has three adult sons and one grandson and resides in Pickerington with his wife, Misty.

Michael McCann

Chief of Staff, Ohio Department of Public Safety

In November 2009, Michael McCann joined the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Director’s Office to serve as Chief of Staff.

With more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement including administration, leading operations, sensitive investigations and multi-jurisdictional efforts, McCann was tapped for the Chief of Staff position to engage his experience and knowledge of the public safety field to ensure the Department is running effectively and efficiently with the safety and well-being of the public as its top priority.

Prior to this appointment, McCann was a Deputy Director within the Department’s Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU), overseeing Administration and OIU’s southern district offices operations. McCann came to the Department after retiring from active duty with Columbus Police in 2007.

During his tenure with Columbus Police, McCann lead investigations relating to homicides, serious crimes against people and suspicious disappearances as well as Critical Incident Response Team investigations. In 2002, he was selected as Police Officer of the Year. He also served the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9 in the leadership capacity of Grievance Chairman/Elected Treasurer, supervising the day-to-day operations of the largest police local lodge in Ohio, handling finances, negotiating contracts and mediating disputes. He began his career with Columbus Police as a patrol officer, graduating from the Columbus Police Academy’s 57th recruit class, continuing his education through training, including attending classes at the FBI National Academy.

McCann has three grown children and two grandchildren. He and his wife, Bonnie, reside in Hilliard.