Bobby Trae Trousdale Appointed Deputy Chief of Staff in OKC Mayor's Office

“I think it is a fascinating puzzle balancing representation of Oklahoma City and representation in the way we’re being held accountable,” Bobby “Trae” Trousdale said. The Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member became deputy chief of staff in Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt’s office in June 2026, potawatomi.org reported.

The appointment places Trousdale at the center of one of the most consequential administrative functions in city government: monitoring more than 50 boards, trusts and commissions that the mayor appoints members to. Since he joined the office, more than 200 individuals have been appointed across these bodies, creating what Trousdale describes as a complex puzzle of representation and accountability.

Tracking 50 Boards While Building the One OKC Framework

Trousdale’s day-to-day work extends well beyond board appointments. He handles constituent engagement, processes proclamation and citation requests, and focuses on four key priority areas for Mayor Holt: youth and education, economic development, grant writing, and the mayor’s “One OKC” framework. Building and fostering relationships remains central to the role, he said.

The sheer scope of the oversight is substantial. With more than 200 appointments made since June, the mayor’s office must track everything from economic development trusts to cultural commissions. Trousdale has found the diversity of these boards and commissions one of the most exciting parts of the job, noting the challenge of ensuring each reflects both the breadth of Oklahoma City’s population and the specific expertise needed for effective governance.

Preparing for 2028 Olympics Amid Rapid Population Growth

The work comes as Oklahoma City prepares for a transformative moment in its history. Trousdale pointed to 2028, when the city will host the entirety of two Olympic sports, as a big year that requires careful consideration. He and others in the mayor’s office are already evaluating considerations such as transportation and how the experiences of residents and tourists might unfold during the games and afterward.

That preparation intersects with long-term demographic shifts. Oklahoma City should reach 1 million residents by early 2050, Trousdale noted, and part of that growth includes the Indigenous population. The city already has the third largest concentration of Native Americans in the United States, but Trousdale believes that figure is understated.

“What does it mean to develop relations with the Nations represented? What does it also mean to carve out an Indigenous fingerprint and Indigenous spaces in the metro as we continue to grow? And how are we honoring those that were here first while preparing a space for who’s to come? I think those kinds of questions are something I’m extremely excited about and will be posing. I am honored to do that under OKC’s first Native mayor.”

Third-Generation Tribal Employee Brings CPN Experience to City Hall

This focus on Indigenous representation carries deep personal significance. Trousdale grew up in Tribal jurisdiction, and both his grandfather and his mother were Tribal employees, making him a third-generation Tribal employee. Before joining Mayor Holt’s office, he spent a year and a half as the grants and finance coordinator at the Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation, following earlier work in corporate and nonprofit settings.

“My heart and desire have always been with CPN,” he said. He is also a 2018 Potawatomi Leadership Program alum and a descendant of the Toupin family. The leadership program, he said, provided experiences that shaped his future. “The PLP is intimately connected to my academic research, my professional experiences and my own personal priority of wanting to work for and in Indigenous communities, even outside of the CPN perspective,” Trousdale said.

His civic involvement extends across the metro area. He serves as chair of the Young Professionals Board for Oklahoma City’s Homeless Alliance, sits on the Board of Directors for the American Civil Liberties Union Oklahoma affiliate, and serves on the Tecumseh Alumni Association.

“Bobby ‘Trae’ is one of one,” said Bailey Siber, chief of staff to the mayor. “His empathy, grit, enthusiasm and dedication to service are unmatched.”

Trousdale feels many at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation have invested in his success. His career outlook is grounded in his Potawatomi identity and his commitment to growing, remaining humble, and continuing the teachings he has been given. “It’s always been about a growth mindset,” he said. “Each day is different and embracing public/private strategic partnerships are, from my perspective, what everyone is looking towards … weaponizing curiosity of what we don’t know, and oftentimes asking ‘dumb questions’ causes us to objectively examine assumptions in a way that keeps us efficient, effective and impactful.”