NEWS
NORMAN, Okla. — The University of Oklahoma has named Derek Fuller, a 30-year law enforcement veteran who previously served in leadership roles with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as Chief of Police and Associate Vice President. Beginning Oct. 13, Fuller will provide leadership and direction for police and public safety functions across the entire university system.
“The safety and security of our students, faculty, staff, and all who visit our campuses is our university’s number one priority,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “Derek Fuller’s extensive experience in both campus and community safety will strengthen our commitment to creating a secure environment where we can all learn, work and thrive.”
In this role, Fuller will work closely with the Deputy Chiefs of Police and will be directly responsible for integrating police and security operations across OU. He will also serve as the primary liaison between the department and university leadership, external law enforcement agencies, the communities in which OU campuses reside, and contracted security services. His priorities will include the ongoing development of risk mitigation strategies, emergency preparedness and crisis response, and community-oriented policing practices.
Fuller most recently served as Chief of Public Safety and Associate Vice Chancellor at the Alamo Colleges District Police Department in San Antonio, Texas, the fourth-largest police department in the San Antonio metropolitan area. There, he was responsible for risk management and public safety across five college campuses, where he improved training programs, enhanced operational efficiencies, fostered community engagement and ensured department policies followed national best practices.
Prior to his service at Alamo Colleges, Fuller spent 25 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He held several positions, including special agent, Chief of the FBI Police Department in Washington, D.C., and, most recently, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge. In that role, he led a team of 150 special agents, staff, police, and task force officers investigating homicides, organized crime, violent gangs, human trafficking, and other complex criminal activities. He also served as the San Francisco Division Crisis Negotiation Team Leader and directed teams focused on cybercriminal threats and violent crime.
A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Fuller served as a Naval Flight Officer for five years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and general engineering from the Naval Academy and a master’s in public safety – criminal justice from Liberty University. He has been a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police since 2008 and of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators since 2020.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
Mary Margaret Holt, dean of the University of Oklahoma Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, has been honored with the Paseo Arts Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her leadership and contributions to Oklahoma’s arts community.
With winter weather already bringing low temperatures to the state, the Oklahoma Poison Center is urging residents to take extra precautions to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning as they begin heating their homes for the winter season. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly when inhaled in large quantities, and it poses a heightened risk as people rely on heating devices for warmth during cold weather.
Thanks to support from the Chickasaw Nation, the University of Oklahoma College of Law has announced the continuation and expansion of the Chickasaw Nation – Henry Family Lecture Series. Under the new name, the event will continue to showcase thought-provoking discourse surrounding the rule of law.
