Okay Memiş was born in Piraziz, Giresun in 1970. He graduated from Istanbul University, the Faculty of the Political Sciences in 1991. He served as a District Governor Candidate in Governorship of Ordu in 1992.

He served as Aksaray-Sarıyahşi District Governor between 1995-1997,

Bingöl-Genç District Governor between 1997-1999,

Çankırı-Orta District Governor between 1999-2002,

Department Manager, Department Head and Deputy Director General at the Ministry of Interior General Directorate of Local Administrations between 2002-2016,

Chief Advisor to the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology,

Governor of Gümüşhane between 2016-2018,

Governor of Erzurum between 2018-2023,

Head of Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) between 2023-2024.

He was appointed as the Secretary General of the National Security Council with the Presidential Appointment Decree No. 2025/43 dated 03/02/2025.

Governor Okay MEMİŞ speaks fluent English. He is married with two children.