The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The Texas Public Safety Commission has named Steven C. McCraw director of the Department of Public Safety. His appointment will take effect following completion of a background check.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Steven McCraw’s caliber to step in as the new director of DPS,” said Allan B. Polunsky, chairman of the Texas Public Safety Commission. “His resume is distinguished and impeccable. He will undoubtedly build on the solid foundation and history of the Department and lead it forcibly into the future.”

McCraw, 55, has served as director of Texas Homeland Security in the governor’s office since 2004. He is the 12th director in the department’s 74-year history.

“It is humbling to command men and women whether in the military, the FBI or the DPS,” said Steven McCraw. “Every day, troopers, Texas Rangers, criminal investigators and other DPS personnel willingly place their lives at risk to protect their fellow citizens. It is a rare opportunity and a great honor to serve the state of Texas as director of the Department of Public Safety.”

McCraw started his law enforcement career with DPS in 1977 as a Highway Patrol trooper before promoting to Narcotics investigator. In 1983, he was appointed a Special Agent with the FBI. Before retiring in 2004, his FBI career included stops in Dallas, Pennsylvania, California, Washington, D.C., Arizona, Virginia and San Antonio.

His assignments included unit chief of an organized crime unit, director of a foreign terrorism tracking task force after 9/11, special agent in charge of the San Antonio Field Division and assistant director of the Office of Intelligence and the Inspection Division in Washington, D.C.

A native of El Paso, McCraw has Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees from West Texas State University.

DPS has some 3,506 commissioned officers and 4,743 noncommissioned employees.