Steven C. McCraw
Director/Colonel
Steven C. McCraw became the Director and Colonel of the Texas Department of Public Safety in August 2009. He began his law enforcement career with DPS in 1977 as a Trooper in the Texas Highway Patrol and later as a DPS Narcotics Agent until 1983 when he became a Special Agent with the FBI. He served in Dallas, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Tucson, San Antonio and Washington, DC.
His promotions included Supervisory Special Agent, Unit Chief of the Colombian/Mexican Organized Crime Unit, Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Tucson, Inspector-In-Charge of the South East Bomb Task Force, Inspector – Deputy Assistant Director, Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio office, Assistant Director of the Office of Intelligence for which he was tasked to establish after the attacks on 9/11. He was also responsible for establishing the Foreign Terrorism Tracking Task Force under Office of the Attorney General.
In 2004, McCraw retired from the FBI to become the Texas Homeland Security Director in the Office of the Governor where he served until his appointment as DPS Director.
A native of El Paso, McCraw has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees from West Texas State University.
Freeman F. Martin, Lt. Colonel
Deputy Director Homeland Security Operations
Freeman Martin is the Deputy Director over the Homeland Security Operations and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The Homeland Security Operations areas include Executive Protection Bureau, Media and Communications Office, Office of Government Relations, and Texas Homeland Security.
With 33 years of law enforcement experience, Martin began his career with DPS in 1990 as a highway patrolman in Winnie. He transferred to Lubbock in 1995, eventually 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 captain in Houston, where he later promoted to Texas Ranger major. In October 2014, Martin was named regional commander of Region 6, San Antonio. Martin was later appointed to Deputy Director, Homeland Security Operations in July 2018.
He is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Texas A&M-Commerce. He has received numerous awards and commendations during his tenure with the Department.
Walt Goodson, Lt. Colonel
Deputy Director Law Enforcement Services
Walt Goodson is the Deputy Director of Law Enforcement Services and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The Law Enforcement Service offices and divisions include Crime Lab, Crime Records, Cyber Security, Driver License Division, Finance Division, Information Technology, Infrastructure Operations Division, Training Operations Division, Regulatory Services Division and Chief Innovation Office.
Goodson began his career with the Department in 1994 as a trooper in the Texas Highway Patrol Division. In September 2023, he was appointed to Deputy Director of Law Enforcement Services. During his DPS career, Goodson has also held positions as a member of the DPS SWAT team, sergeant, lieutenant and captain in the Criminal Investigations Division, captain over the Law Enforcement Promotions System, major in the DPS Training Academy, assistant chief in the Infrastructure Operations Division and chief of the Training Operations Division. Before joining DPS, Goodson was a correctional officer from 1991 to 1994 with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville.
Goodson received a BS in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University and MS in Quality Systems Management from National Graduate University. He is a graduate of the Northwestern University Police School of Staff and Command and the Texas Department of Public Safety Command College.
Goodson is a past president and life member of the American Polygraph Association and the Texas Association of Law Enforcement Polygraph Investigators. He is also a member of several professional organizations.
Jason Taylor, Lt. Colonel
Deputy Director Law Enforcement Operations
Jason C. Taylor began his career with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) in 1998. He was assigned to the Anahuac and New Caney offices as a state trooper before promoting into the Criminal Investigations Division. He served as a sergeant/investigator in the Special Crimes Service in Garland and with the Criminal Intelligence Service in Houston.
Lt. Colonel Taylor was then accepted into the Texas Ranger Division in 2008, where his first assignment was with Company “F” – Waco and later with Company “A” – Houston. In 2011, he promoted to Ranger lieutenant, captain in 2014 and was subsequently assigned to oversee the Public Integrity Unit (PIU) at Austin headquarters before promoting to Ranger major in 2016, in Houston. In 2018, he was promoted to regional director of DPS operations in Southeast Texas, and on October 1, 2022, he was appointed to Chief of the Texas Ranger Division.
Lt. Colonel 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. He volunteers for 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 Ranger Company Commander’s Award. He is married and has two children.
On February 1, 2024, he was appointed to his current position as Lt. Colonel, Law Enforcement Operations.