Mike Parson becomes Missouri's 57th governor this evening, after Eric Greitens submits his resignation by 5 p.m., as he promised Tuesday he would do.
Parson has scheduled a mostly private program for taking over as the state's chief executive, only 16 months into the four-year term Greitens won in November 2016.
The public is not invited to either event, although media will be present.
Parson's swearing-in ceremony begins with a 4 p.m. prayer service at Jefferson City's First Baptist Church, which will be followed by the actual oath-of-office ceremony at 5:30 p.m., in the Governor's Office in the Capitol.
Missouri Supreme Court Judge Mary R. Russell will preside.
The lieutenant governor's office said Thursday that details for a public reception will be announced at a later date.
In preparation for the transition into his new office, Parson on Thursday received a security briefing at the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency.
"I appreciate the service of our leadership and personnel at the Missouri Department of Public Safety," Parson - a former Polk County sheriff - said in a news release. "Emergency preparedness and the security of our state will always be my priority as governor and this was an important briefing on our ongoing efforts to keep our citizens safe.
"We are doing a lot more listening than talking as we prepare for this transition."
The incoming governor also continued making "a massive number of calls," reaching out to numerous Missouri leaders in advance of today's official transition.
Parson's office said he's spoken with both of Missouri's U.S. senators - Republican Roy Blunt and Democrat Claire McCaskill - as well as with all eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including the two who represent Mid-Missouri, Republicans Blaine Luetkemeyer, of St. Elizabeth, and Vicki Hartzler, of Harrisonville.
Parson's office also said he's visited with Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, State Auditor Nicole Galloway and Attorney General Josh Hawley, as well as St. Louis City Mayor Lyda Krewson and Kansas City Mayor Sly James.
Also on Thursday, Galloway announced plans to conduct "closeout audits" of both the governor's and lieutenant governor's offices.
Those audits are normal whenever there's a change in the holder of any of Missouri's six statewide offices.
In a news release, Galloway said the audits are to assist in transitions and ensure incoming officials are aware of areas for improvement.
With Greitens' announcement Tuesday that he was resigning as of 5 p.m. today, Galloway's staff notified both offices of the audits and required that they preserve documents.
Closeout audits last were conducted in 2017, when the current officials took office.
The audit of former Gov. Jay Nixon received a rating of "fair" when it was released in August 2017.
The audit of former Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder received an overall performance rating of "good" in April 2017.
Auditors will review the office operations and financial activity of both offices through today - the last day of the statewide elected officials' service in their current offices.
Individuals with information for consideration during the course of any of these audits may contact the State Auditor's confidential hotline at 1-800-347-8597 or [email protected].