Current Chief Deputy Tulsa County Commissioner
Born and raised in Tulsa County, Jim Rea has dedicated his career to public service: first as a Naval Flight Officer and then as an attorney, protecting taxpayer dollars for Tulsa County since 2019. Currently, Jim serves as Chief Deputy under Commissioner Karen Keith.
JIM REA
As a Chief Deputy County Commissioner, Jim worked extensively with state legislators to secure $50 million in funding for a project to improve the Tulsa/West Tulsa levee system that protects District 2 homes and businesses from devastating floods. He oversees taxpayer dollars that maintain over 680 road miles and 180 bridges throughout Tulsa County. Jim has also coordinated efforts with community leaders, the Tulsa City-County Health Department, and law enforcement to keep District 2 neighborhoods clean and thriving.
Since childhood, Jim has been a member of the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. Jim attended Tulsa’s Eisenhower Elementary School and graduated from Cascia Hall Preparatory School. As a student Jim was active in sports, the National Honor Society and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Jim graduated from college and was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy in 1993. After completing flight training, Jim was deployed around the world, including deployments to Keflavik, Iceland, Sicily, and Panama. During his career, Jim accumulated more than 3,000 hours in naval aircraft, including more than 40 combat-support missions in the former Yugoslavia. After leaving active duty in 2002 to pursue a career in law, Jim transitioned to the Navy Reserve so that he could return to service if needed. He retired from naval service in 2021 at the rank of Commander.
Following active duty, Jim joined a private legal practice, specializing in bankruptcy and litigation. In 2019, Jim joined the Civil Division of the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office, where he represented Tulsa County and its elected officials in lawsuits, real estate transactions and business contracts. In addition, he routinely advised Tulsa County elected officials, division directors, department heads, and staff on a myriad of issues.
Since 2022, Jim has served as Commissioner Karen Keith’s Chief Deputy, representing her and District 2 on a number of important community boards, including the Metropolitan Environmental Trust (MET), A Way Home for Tulsa Leadership Council, and the Drainage District 12 Advisory Board, which operates and maintains 20 miles of levees that protect homes, livelihoods and more than $2 billion in infrastructure in Sand Springs, Tulsa and Tulsa County.
Jim has a Bachelor’s degree from Miami University, a Master of Arts from the University of Central Oklahoma, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Dallas, Juris Doctor from the Southern Methodist University School of Law, and is a graduate of the United States Naval War College Command & Staff program.