Gov. Kevin Stitt’s pick to head the Commissioners of the Land Office lacks the advanced degree needed to become permanent secretary and has owned a company involved in legal disputes over oil and gas leases.

The Legislature would have to change the job’s qualifications to allow acting secretary Brandt Vawter to become secretary.

Vawter was appointed in June to lead the Land Office, which manages a $2.4 billion portfolio of oil and gas assets, agricultural land and commercial property to benefit Oklahoma education. Vawter formerly worked as a landman at Chesapeake Energy Corp. and XTO Energy In...