DPS Announces Staff Promotions

April 26, 2018

AUSTIN - Following the approval of the Texas Public Safety Commission (PSC) yesterday, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has announced the promotions of multiple staff members to leadership positions within the agency. The promotions will be effective September 1, 2018.*

“The duties and responsibilities entrusted to DPS by the Texas Leadership and Legislature are of critical importance, and the leaders of this agency play an integral role in ensuring those duties are fulfilled,” said PSC Chairman Steven Mach. “We are grateful for the dedication and selfless service by DPS’ top leaders who will soon be retiring. Their countless contributions will benefit this agency for many years to come. Thankfully the department has established a deep bench of outstanding leaders with a variety of expertise throughout the agency. The Public Safety Commission has great confidence in every individual promoted today, and we are eager to begin working with the new leadership team as they take the agency forward.”

“As the baton is passed from one leadership team to the next, I have no doubt that the individuals being promoted to these positions will continue to build on the great work of their predecessors,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “I look forward to working with this outstanding team as they take on new challenges and seize opportunities to bolster the incredible work being done by the thousands of dedicated men and women in our department.”

Randall Prince is being promoted to Deputy Director of Law Enforcement Operations. Prince will replace Deputy Director/Colonel David Baker, who is retiring August 31, 2018. Prince currently serves as the Division Director and Chief of the Texas Rangers Division, a position he has served in since October of 2014. Prince previously served as the Regional Director for DPS Region 5 in Lubbock, which encompasses Panhandle and West Texas area counties. Prior to that, he served as the Texas Ranger Company Commander in Lubbock. During his career with DPS, Prince has held assignments in the Texas Highway Patrol, Criminal Law Enforcement Division, and the Texas Rangers Division, serving in multiple duty stations throughout the state. Along with more than 29 years of law enforcement experience, Prince also holds a Master Peace Officer Certificate; is a graduate of the FBI National Academy; and a graduate of the Governor’s Executive Development Program (Class XXXII). Prince was a collegiate athlete and graduate of Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. 

Freeman Martin is being promoted to Deputy Director of Homeland Security and Chief of Staff. Martin will replace Chief of Staff/Deputy Director Robert J. “Duke” Bodisch, who is retiring August 31, 2018. Martin is the current Regional Director for DPS Region 6 in San Antonio. He began his career with DPS in 1990 as a Highway Patrolman in Winnie, Texas. He transferred to Lubbock in 1995, later promoting to Corporal. In April 1999, Martin promoted to Sergeant in the Narcotics Service and was stationed in Houston.  In March 2002, he promoted to Texas Ranger Sergeant and remained in Houston. In January 2008, he promoted to Texas Ranger Lieutenant in Austin, and Inspector within the Audit and Inspection Office in 2009.  In May 2009, he promoted to Texas Ranger Captain in Houston, where he later promoted to Texas Ranger Major. In September of 2014, Martin was promoted to Regional Director of DPS Region 6. Martin is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, and has received numerous awards and commendations during his tenure with DPS.

Chance Collins is being promoted to Division Director and Chief of the Texas Rangers Division. Chance Collins currently serves as the Regional Director for DPS Region 7 - Capitol Region in Austin.  Prior to that, he served as the Assistant Division Director for the Texas Rangers. Collins began his career with DPS in 1993, and his previous assignments include Commander of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team; Texas Ranger Reconnaissance Team; Texas Ranger Major of Company “F” in Waco; and Texas Ranger in San Antonio, Harlingen and Houston.  Prior to his 15 years with the Texas Ranger Division, Collins held positions as a special agent on the Governor’s Protective Detail, and Texas Highway Patrol trooper in Perryton, Austin and Georgetown. He is a former member of the Ranger Officer Involved Shooting Committee, Crime Scene Investigation Committee, and the Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program. Collins has a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayland Baptist University; graduated the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy - Session 256; the DPS Command College - Cohort 6; and the National Forensic Academy at the University of Tennessee.

Tim Ochsner is being promoted to Division Director and Chief Pilot of Aircraft Operations. Ochsner will replace Division Director/Chief Pilot Billy Nabors, who is retiring August 31, 2018. Tim Ochsner currently serves as Assistant Division Director/Assistant Chief Pilot of Aircraft Operations, and has held this position since 2010. Ochsner has 24 years with the DPS, and his prior assignments have included Trooper, Pilot-Investigator, Pilot-Lieutenant, and Training Captain. Ochsner has more than 8,000 hours of flight time, and his ratings include Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificates for multi-engine airplane; ATP helicopter; ATP single engine airplane; certificated flight instructor – airplane and helicopter; and certificated flight instructor – instrument airplane and helicopter.  Ochsner has served 33 years in the United States Army, including a combat tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) as a Special Forces Company Commander.  Currently he is a Colonel and assigned as the Commander of Special Operations Detachment – Africa (Texas Army National Guard) in Austin, Texas.  He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Special Forces Qualification Course and numerous safety and risk management courses.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of North Texas.

Jeoffry “Jeoff” Williams is being promoted to Regional Director of DPS Region 1 in Garland, which consists of counties in the North Texas area. Williams will replace Regional Director Jack Webster, who is retiring August 31, 2018. Williams currently serves as the Criminal Investigations Division Major in Region 1. He started his career with DPS in December 1994. After graduating from the DPS Academy, he was assigned to the Highway Patrol Division and stationed in Winnie. In 1996, Williams transferred to Georgetown, Texas, where he served on the DPS SWAT Team. In 1997, he promoted to Staff Sergeant on the Governor’s Protection Detail and remained there until promoting to Narcotics Sergeant in Garland in 1999.  In 2007, Williams promoted to Narcotics Lieutenant and was stationed at Headquarters.  After transferring back to Garland in 2008, he promoted to Captain in Garland in 2010.  In 2016, Williams was named CID Major in Region 1. He is a graduate of the DEA Drug Unit Commanders Academy and the FBI National Academy – Session 263. Williams served as an infantry platoon Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps during Operation Desert Storm and has a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Southwest Texas State University.

Jason Taylor is being promoted to Regional Director of DPS Region 2 in Houston, which consists of counties in Southeast Texas. Taylor will replace Regional Director Philip “Duane” Steen, who is retiring August 31, 2018. Taylor currently serves as Texas Ranger Major and Company Commander of Texas Ranger Company “A” in Houston. Taylor began his more than 19-year career with DPS as a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper serving in various duty stations in Region 2. He also served as a Sergeant/Investigator with the Criminal Investigations Division in the Special Crimes Service in Garland, and the DPS Criminal Intelligence Service in Houston. Taylor was then accepted into the Texas Rangers Division – his first assignment was with Company “F” - Waco and later with Company “A” - Houston.  He promoted to Ranger Lieutenant in 2011, Captain in 2014, and was subsequently assigned to oversee the Public Integrity Unit (PIU) at Austin Headquarters before promoting to Ranger Major in Houston.  Taylor earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University, and is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. Major Taylor routinely volunteers with Spindletop Youth Charities and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, where he serves on the Emergency Response Team. He is a four-time recipient of the Houston 100 Club Officer of the Year Award, and has received other awards and commendations, including a DPS Regional Commander’s Award and a Company Commander’s Award. 

Phillip G. Ayala is being promoted to Regional Director of DPS Region 6 (in San Antonio), which consists of Central Texas counties. He currently serves as Major with the Texas Highway Patrol (THP) Division at DPS Headquarters in Austin. Ayala began his career with DPS in 1996 as a Highway Patrol Trooper stationed at the Capitol in Austin. In April of 2003, he promoted to Sergeant and moved to the South Austin duty station. In September of 2005, Ayala promoted to Lieutenant within the Administration Division at DPS Headquarters in Austin, where he remained until he promoted to Captain in the Administration Division in January of 2009. In November 2012, he transferred as a Captain to the DPS Office of Inspector General, and in September of 2015, was promoted to Major in the Texas Highway Patrol Division at DPS Headquarters in Austin. Ayala earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree from Lamar University in 2015 after beginning his studies at Del Mar College and Texas A&M – Kingsville. He also graduated from the FBI National Academy Session #271 in 2018.

Todd Snyder has been promoted to Assistant Division Director and Assistant Chief of the Texas Rangers Division in Austin. * This promotion is effective immediately. Snyder most recently served as the Major of Texas Ranger Company ’“C&” in Lubbock. Snyder has more than 23 years of service with the Texas Department of Public Safety.  He began the DPS Academy in 1996 and was first stationed in Stanton, Texas, as a Highway Patrol Trooper.  His subsequent assignments during his career with DPS have included Texas Highway Patrol, Criminal Law Enforcement and the Texas Rangers – serving in multiple duty stations in West Texas and the Panhandle.  Prior to beginning his career with the department, Snyder served four years with the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office, where his assignments included Jailer/Dispatcher, Assistant Jail Administrator and Patrol Deputy/K-9 Handler.

Hank Sibley is being promoted to Assistant Division Director/Assistant Chief of the Texas Highway Patrol Division. Sibley currently serves as Highway Patrol Field Major in DPS Region 2 in Houston. He is a 33-year veteran of the Texas Department of Public Safety.  He began his law enforcement career as an officer with the Baton Rouge (Louisiana) Police Department in 1980. He graduated from the Texas DPS Academy in 1985 and was stationed in Sulphur Springs as a Texas Highway Patrol (THP) Trooper.  Sibley became a THP supervisor in 1989 and has served in various supervisory capacities in Dallas, Palestine, Athens, Sulphur Springs, McKinney, Sherman, Laredo, Weslaco, McAllen and Houston.  Sibley was the previous Highway Patrol Captain in both Laredo and McAllen.  He was then promoted to Highway Patrol Field Major in Region 3 - Weslaco and later transferred to Region 2 - Houston. Sibley is a graduate of Louisiana State University and the Northwestern University School of Police Staff& Command.

Stacy Holland is being promoted to Assistant Division Director/Assistant Chief Pilot of Aircraft Operations. He currently serves as Major of DPS Aircraft Operations. After attending the East Texas Police Academy, Holland began his law enforcement career with the Kilgore Police Department in 1993, where he obtained his first Law Enforcement Commission as a Reserve Police Officer. Holland served as a patrol officer and detective before leaving the Kilgore Police Department in 1997 to attend the Texas Department of Public Safety Recruit School. He served in the Texas Highway Patrol and went on to serve in the DPS Narcotics Division as a Criminal Law Enforcement Trooper. Holland began his service in the Aircraft Section and promoted to the rank of Sergeant/Pilot in 2002, Lieutenant/Pilot in 2008, Captain in 2010, and Major in 2015. In his current role as Major, he is stationed in San Antonio and is responsible for air support missions, including various special operation task forces. Holland holds FAA ATP certificates in both multi-engine airplanes and rotorcraft, and has logged more 14,000 hours of flight time. Holland earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Kilgore College.

Michelle Farris is being promoted to Assistant Division Director of the Law Enforcement Support Division over the Crime Records Service.  Farris is replacing Angie Kendall, who is retiring on August 31, 2018. Farris currently serves as a Deputy Administrator within the Crime Records Service. She has dedicated more than 20 years of service working for DPS. She began working for the Department in 1996, and has spent her entire career working within the various program areas in the Crime Records Service.  Farris currently serves as the state representative for the International Justice and Public Safety Network.  She has been appointed to serve on national work groups for the FBI, redesigning one of the most important law enforcement databases in the country, the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). Farris also serves as the lead for a task force involving the NCIC gang file. Farris received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Texas in Austin.

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