Chickasaw Nation Lt. Governor to deliver ECU’s Fall Commencement address
ADA, Okla. – Chickasaw Nation Lt. Governor Chris Anoatubby is set to present the East Central University commencement address for the Fall 2025 graduation ceremony Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. inside the Kerr Activities Center.
Anoatubby is a 1997 graduate of the University of Oklahoma Health Campus, where he earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Pharmacy. He would later attend Southeastern State University where he earned his Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
It was in 1997 that Anoatubby began his career with the Chickasaw Nation, marking the beginning of decades of service to the Chickasaw community and state of Oklahoma.
Beginning as a staff pharmacist, Anoatubby was named Pharmacy Supervisor within a year due to his leadership and knowledge in the role.
In 2001, he was named Chief of Pharmacy Services where his passion for health care and technology enabled him to succeed in making improvements to an already high quality pharmacy system. While in this position, he was named Outstanding Young Pharmacist of the Year by the Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Services agency for his implementation of innovative programs, his leadership skills and his development of mentorship programs. In 2010, he was promoted to Chief Medical Solutions Officer and president of the tribe’s Sovereign Medical Solutions within the Department of Commerce.
Anoatubby led the implementation of patient electronic records, pharmacy interface systems, patch testing and pharmacy database systems. He also played a major role in the creation of the state-of-the-art automated pharmacy center in Ada that opened in 2007.
While serving as Under Secretary of the Department of Commerce, he was instrumental in the development of business diversification efforts in healthcare, pharmaceutical industries, health information technology and other health-related businesses. His responsibilities also included analyzing industry trends and changes in the political and economic environment to help guide the Chickasaw Nation plans for economic diversification opportunities.
In 2018, Anoatubby was named Deputy Secretary of the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health where he was responsible for direct operational oversight of all clinical and non-clinical programs and services within the department. In this role, he served as the chief operating officer for the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center, Ardmore Clinic, Tishomingo Clinic and Purcell Clinic.
In 2019 he was elected Lt. Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. As Lt. Governor, Anoatubby helped lead the Chickasaw Nation’s pandemic response, which enabled the Chickasaw Nation to help keep infection rates and negative health impacts to a minimum for its elders, families, citizens, employees and neighbors.
Anoatubby has also played a significant role in leading the response to the exponential increase in criminal justice responsibilities resulting from the McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling, which expanded the Chickasaw Nation’s criminal justice jurisdiction from approximately three percent of the Chickasaw Nation treaty territory to 100 percent of the land within its boundaries.
Anoatubby remains dedicated to furthering the mission of the Chickasaw Nation and opportunities for the Chickasaw people long into the future. He is thankful for the love and support of his wife Becky, son Brendan and daughters Eryn and Sydney.
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