PRINCIPAL CHIEF JAMES FLOYD

James Floyd is the chief executive of the fourth largest tribe in the United States, located in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation covers eleven counties in eastern Oklahoma with over 86,500 members worldwide.

Chief Floyd oversees Departments of: Housing, Health, Social Services, Education, Training, Economic Development, Law Enforcement, Language, Tourism, Cultural/Historic Preservation, Media/Public Affairs, Community Development, Environmental, Veterans Services, and Roads. He coordinates with traditional church and ceremonial ground leaders (Mekkos), Tribal communities, Tribal Legislative and Judicial branches, as well as with other tribal, city, state and federal governments.

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation operates a budget in excess of $290 million with more than 4,000 employees. Gaming enterprises consist of nine casinos; the largest is River Spirit Casino Resort featuring Margaritaville in Tulsa. Non-gaming business ventures include property management, information technology, staffing, and security to customers worldwide. MCN operates two Travel Plazas, two community hospitals, a community clinic, five tribal clinics, a rehab facility, and the College of the Muscogee Nation.

Chief Floyd’s career spans more than 38 years of public service: 28 years of federal service, 23 years in the Senior Executive Service. He served as Director of: the Eastern Oklahoma VA in Muskogee; the VA Heartland Network (VISN 15) in Kansas City, Missouri; the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System; the VA Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he coordinated health support for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games; and the Portland Area Indian Health Service in Portland, Oregon. He has been recognized nationally for establishing outreach to Native American Veterans, incorporating traditional healing practices, and establishing tele-health services in rural and Native American communities, and was awarded the American College of Healthcare Executives’ Regent’s Award.

Chief Floyd began his professional career with Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Environmental Services. He was Manager of Health Services, then Director of Community Services where he implemented the Tribe’s first food distribution, social services, burial assistance, and school clothing programs.

A graduate of Eufaula High School, Chief Floyd earned an Associate Degree from Oklahoma State University, graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration from Northeastern State University, and earned a Masters of Public Administration/Health Administration from Portland State University. He completed training at the University of North Carolina and at the Brookings Institute, and is a Fellow in the American College of Health Executives.

Chief James Floyd is Wind Clan of his mother’s (Margaret) Koweta Tribal Town and a son of his father’s (Joe) Bear Clan. He attends the Tvlahasse Wvkokaye ceremonial ground. He has been married to Carol (Tustison) Floyd since 1979. They have a son and a daughter.

Muscogee Creek Nation
Attn: James Floyd, Principal Chief
PO Box 580
Okmulgee, OK 74447
(918) 732-7601

SECOND CHIEF LOUIS HICKS

Clan: Fuswvlke (Bird)
Tribal Town : Atvse (inactive)/Arbeka (active)
Church: Silver Springs Indian Baptist Church
Place of Birth: Eram, Oklahoma
Home: Okmulgee, OK
Family: Father Houston Hicks (WWII veteran), Mother Eliza (Freeman) Hicks, Married to Mrs. Gloria Hicks for 40 years
Father of seven children, and grandfather to 16 grandchildren

Education:
Rose State College, AS in Elementary Education 1977,
Northeastern State University (BS) Elementary Education 1979,
Northeastern State University Master of Science in Education—School Administration 1992

Military:
1969-1972
Enlisted – 1969
Served in Vietnam with the 134th Assault Helicopter Company, 1st Aviation Brigade
Door Gunner/Crew Chief on UH1H Huey Helicopter
Awarded – Air Crewman Badge, Air Medal (14 times), Army Commendation Medal
All Indian Rodeo Association of Oklahoma
Oklahoma School Board Association
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 539
American Legion Post 213

Hicks worked for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation from 2007 to December 2011 as the Director of the Human Development Department. He supervised seven major programs: Muscogee Language Program, Higher Education, Johnson O’Malley, Head Start, Eufaula Dorms, Reintegration and Employment and Training.

Muscogee Creek Nation
Attn: Louis Hicks, Second Chief
PO Box 580
Okmulgee, OK 74447
(918) 732-7612