TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin. Jr. named former Council Speaker Mike Shambaugh as the tribe’s Special Envoy to the U.S. Department of Justice and Senior Advisor on Public Safety during a ceremony Aug. 15.
“Speaker Shambaugh has given so much of his professional life to the cause of law enforcement, public service and defending tribal sovereignty,” said Chief Hoskin. “My administration and all Cherokees are fortunate that he has agreed to continue contributing his time and talent at this critical time in our Nation.”
Shambaugh represented Council District 9 of the tribe’s legislative branch for the last eight years. He was elected in 2017, re-elected in 2021 and served the last four years as Council Speaker.
Prior to election to the Council, Shambaugh served as Chief of Police for the town of Jay, Oklahoma, an elected position he held for 20 years.
Shambaugh’s career in law enforcement has spanned 34 years.
“I could not pass up an opportunity to continue serving the Cherokee people,” said Shambaugh. “As the tribe continues to meet the challenges and opportunities of the post-McGirt era, I feel I can help lead, help advise and ultimately be part of a team that makes our tribal nation even stronger.”
As Council Speaker and chair of the Rules committee, Shambaugh sponsored and helped pass into law dozens of pieces of legislation ranging from language revitalization and housing, to education and health.
Shambaugh was the lead sponsor of the Respond, Recover and Rebuild Plan, a framework that allocated over a billion dollars in pandemic response and recovery spending to help tribal citizens with services.
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s McGirt ruling which led to the expansion of the tribe’s criminal jurisdiction, he served on a sovereignty protection commission and helped quickly direct over $30 million into the tribe’s criminal justice system for expansion.
“Speaker Shambaugh has served the Cherokee people with a big heart, a sharp mind and is committed to strengthening tribal sovereignty to promote the common good,” said Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. “I am so pleased that when he once again heard the call to serve, he said yes.”
As Special Envoy to the United States Department of Justice and Related Agencies and Senior Advisor on Public Safety, Shambaugh will serve in Chief Hoskin’s cabinet.
Shambaugh will work closely with the tribe’s Attorney General, Chad Harsha.
“Although we are in a strong position, the challenges and opportunities in the area of criminal justice and public safety are growing,” said Harsha. “Having someone of the caliber of former Speaker Shambaugh on our team means we can better meet those challenges, seize more of those opportunities, and continue our commitment to meet the needs and expectations of the Cherokee people.”
Councilman Johnny Jack Kidwell praised Shambaugh’s selection for the job.
“Having served with Speaker Shambaugh I know that he always has Cherokee Nation’s best interests in mind,” said Kidwell. “We can count on him in this new special envoy role to serve honorably and effectively.”
Cherokee Nation’s Acting Marshal Daniel Mead will work closely with Shambaugh as the tribe’s law enforcement agency continues to grow.
“Success in law enforcement is all about teamwork,” said Acting Marshal Mead. “Adding Speaker Shambaugh to the team means we will benefit from his decades of experience in law enforcement and elected office.”
Chief Hoskin established the special envoy position by an executive order signed on Thursday.
Shambaugh was sworn into office in a ceremony on Friday in Tahlequah, the day after leaving office. He will serve a two-year term, coextensive with the final two years of Chief Hoskin’s term of office.