Jett takes oath, begins Senate service

OKLAHOMA CITY – A decade after leaving public office as a state representative, Shane Jett is back at the state Capitol and officially on the job for Senate District 17.  The Shawnee Republican was sworn in Monday in the Senate Chamber by Chief Justice Noma Gurich.

“I’m extremely grateful to the citizens of Pottawatomie and Oklahoma counties for entrusting me to be their voice at the state Capitol,” Jett said. “Our state is once again facing a historic economic downturn, similar to the one we faced in the legislature in 2008.  Just like we did then, the House and Senate will work hard to help Oklahoma families, protect businesses and schools, create new job opportunities and strengthen our economy using fiscally conservative principals and commonsense plans.”

Traditionally, senators take the oath of office at the same time but due to COVID-19 safety protocols and ongoing renovations to the Senate Chamber, the members were split into small groups that were administered their oaths separately. Jett was joined on the Senate Floor by his wife, daughters and a few friends and family.

Jett is a fifth generation Oklahoman and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, who received his degree in International Business from Oklahoma Baptist University.  He served six years in the House of Representatives from 2004 to 2010.

In 2008, Jett was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve through the prestigious Direct Commission Officer program. He served 11 years as an Intelligence Officer receiving an Honorable Discharge in early 2020.

Jett has vast expertise in finance and economic development that garnered him an appointment by President Trump to the U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund Community Development Advisory Board where he serves as Chairman.  He consults for businesses, Native American tribes, non-profits, universities and colleges on both international and domestic business challenges in marketing, management, recruiting, financing and project management.

Jett holds certificates in leadership from Harvard University and has completed Commercial Lending School at the Oklahoma Bankers Association.  Next summer, he is to graduate from the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking at The Wharton School of Business. 

Shane serves on several boards and advisory committees including, among others, the Paul Dickenson College of Business and the Oklahoma Israel Exchange (OKIE).    

Jett and his wife of nearly 20 years, Ana, have three daughters, Raquel, Esther and Sarah. The family attends Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee. 

Committee assignments will be announced in December. The Senate will convene for an Organizational Day on Tuesday, Jan. 5 and session will begin on Monday, Feb. 1.

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For more information contact: Sen. Jett: (405) 521-5539 or Shane.Jett@oksenate.gov