 On June 30, 2000, Cabinet Secretary and DPS Commissioner Bob Ricks appointed Ward as Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, the Department's second highest position.Ward would continue to serve as Assistant Commissioner until October 20, 2003, when Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry appointed him the Interim Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety following the resignation of Cabinet Secretary Ricks.Following the resignation of Robert Ricks to become the Chief of Police of Edmond, Oklahoma, in 2004 Governor Brad Henry appointed Ward to served concurrently as his second Secretary of Safety and Security.