Agencies, Boards and Commissions

Public Safety, Texas Department of*

5 Members - Term: 6 Years

General Information

Agency #: 405

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 4087Austin, TX 78773

Physical Address

805 N. Lamar Blvd.Austin, TX 78752

Members

Office	Office Holder	Hometown / Term Ends
Chairman	Steven P. Mach	Houston, 01-01-2028
Commissioner(s)	Nelda Luce Blair	The Woodlands, 01-01-2026
	Dan Hord III	Midland, 01-01-2030
	Lawrence "Larry" Long	Dallas, 01-01-2028
	Steve Stodghill	Dallas, 01-01-2030

Divisions

Office	Office Holder	Phone / Fax
Director	Freeman F. Martin	(512) 424-2368
Lt. Colonel of Law Enforcement Operations	Jason Taylor	(512) 424-7774
Lt. Colonel of Law Enforcement Services	Walt Goodson	(512) 424-7901
Chief Aircraft Operations	Stacy Holland	(512) 424-0281
Chief Auditor	Catherine Melvin	(512) 424-7573
Chief Crime Lab	Brady Mills	(512) 424-7151
Chief Crime Records	Matt Hicks	(512) 424-7659
Chief Criminal Investigations	Floyd Goodwin	(512) 424-2131
Chief Dispute Resolution Officer	Kevin Meade	(512) 424-8194
Chief Driver License	Sheri Gipson	(512) 424-5415
Chief Equal Employment Office	Adam Kinslow	(512) 438-6533
Chief Executive Protection Bureau	Rudy Resendez	(512) 463-6601
Chief Financial Officer	Suzy Whittenton	(512) 424-2075
Chief and General Counsel	Phillip Adkins	(512) 424-2890
Chief of Government Relations	Kevin Cooper	(512) 424-7272
Chief, Texas Highway Patrol	Bryan Rippee	(512) 424-2110
Chief Information Officer	Jessica Ballew	(512) 424-2280
Chief Infrastructure Operations	Jason Hester	(512) 424-5969
Inspector General	Phillip Ayala	(512) 424-2054
Chief, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism	Dale Avant	(512) 424-5030
Chief, Media & Communications	Ericka Miller	(512) 424-2607
Chief, Regulatory Services	Wayne Mueller	(512) 424-2100
Chief Texas Rangers	Scotty Shiver	(512) 424-7700
Interim Chief Training Operations	Derek Prestridge	(512) 424-5783

Regional Directors

Office	Office Holder	Phone / Fax
Capitol District	Gabriel Ortiz	(512) 463-3472
El Paso	Jose Sanchez	(915) 849-4139
Garland	Jeremy Sherrod	(214) 861-2432
Houston	A. Gerald Brown	(281) 517-1210
Lubbock	Joe Longway	(806) 740-8711
San Antonio	Vince Luciano	(210) 531-4325
Weslaco	Arturo Dela Garza	(956) 565-7100

Notes

The Legislature created the Department of Public Safety (DPS) in 1935 by consolidating the Texas Rangers from the Adjutant General, and the Texas Highway Patrol from the State Highway Department. The Rangers trace their history to 1823 when Stephen F. Austin hired 10 men to protect the colonists, and the Highway Patrol dates back to the late 1920s. Today, DPS' mission is to protect and serve Texas. The agency accomplishes its mission through four main goals: combat crime and terrorism (including matters related to homeland security); enhance highway and public safety; and enhance public safety licensing and regulatory services (including driver licenses, license to carry a handgun and private security occupational licenses).
The commission formulates and oversees policies for the Texas Department of Public Safety.

* Subject to the Texas Sunset Act; will be reviewed in 2031.