A. The Adjutant General shall have the rank of Major General and devote full time to the duties of the office.

B. The Governor may appoint Assistant Adjutants General for Army and Assistant Adjutants General for Air to assist the Adjutant General in the discharge and performance of his or her duties. When appointing Assistant Adjutants General, the Governor shall take into consideration the number of such positions contemplated or recommended by the National Guard Bureau for manning the joint forces headquarters of a state. Such Assistant Adjutants General shall have the qualifications prescribed by law for the Adjutant General and shall have the rank of Brigadier General. The Assistant Adjutants General appointed by the Governor shall be considered staff officers and not commanders except that, in the discretion of the Adjutant General, specific command or supervisory authority may be delegated by the Adjutant General to an Assistant Adjutant General but such delegation shall be accomplished in writing and shall be considered a military publication, as defined in Section 801 of this title (Article 1).

C. Other general officers assigned to billets within the state military forces, including certain billets within the joint forces headquarters, shall be considered staff officers and not commanders except that, in the discretion of the Adjutant General, specific command or supervisory authority may be delegated by the Adjutant General to such general officers but such delegation shall be accomplished in writing and shall be considered a military publication, as defined in Section 801 of this title (Article 1).

D. The Adjutant General may employ a state employee in the position of Executive Assistant and Programs Manager for the Military Department of the state. Said position shall be unclassified and exempt from the Oklahoma Personnel Act¹ and the Merit Rules for Employment, except leave regulations.