Okonogi graduated from Tamagawa University in 1989 and worked as his father's assistant.

Following his father's death in 1991, he was hired as secretary to Foreign Minister Michio Watanabe in 1992.

[2] After holding his seat in the 2005 general election, he served as LDP Deputy Secretary-General starting in November 2005, and as Deputy Chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee starting in September 2006.

[2] He was appointed LDP Chief Deputy Secretary-General in December 2012, Acting Chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee in October 2013, and Chairman of the Federation of Kanagawa Prefecture LDP Branches in April 2014.

[1] As disaster management minister under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Okonogi oversaw the government's response in 2018 to Typhoon Jebi, which resulted in the flooding of Kansai International Airport and extensive damage throughout the surrounding Kansai region.