In addition to his service as secretary, Lackey served concurrently as the executive director of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs.
When Lackey left the Army, he moved to Tulsa and joined Skelly Oil Company, where he served in various financial and executive positions.
He later accepted the position of vice-president and treasurer for Kin-Ark Corporation, a firm involved in chemicals, galvanizing and hotel management in Tulsa.
In May 1995, Republican Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating appointed Lackey to serve as his Secretary of Health and Human Services.
[1] In addition to his services as secretary, Lackey was appointed by Keating to be the first executive director of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs.