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.
Dwight D. Mathis, Lt. Colonel
Deputy Director Law Enforcement Operations
Dwight Mathis holds the rank of Deputy Director/Lt. Colonel for Law Enforcement Operations.
In this role, Mathis oversees the Criminal Investigations Division, Texas Highway Patrol, Texas Rangers, Aviation Operations Division and six regional directors. Mathis most recently served as Chief of the Texas Highway Patrol Division. Mathis has more than 30 years of service with DPS, beginning his career in 1987 as a Trooper stationed in Bay City. He was promoted to Sergeant and served in Webster/Clear Lake, before being promoted to Lieutenant and then Captain, stationed in Bryan. In 2011, he was promoted to Major and assigned to headquarters in Austin. In 2017, Mathis was named Assistant Chief of THP, followed by a subsequent promotion to Regional Director of Region 7, before serving as Chief of THP beginning March 2020.
Mathis has a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice with a minor in political science from Sam Houston State University. He’s also graduated from the FBI National Academy, the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association and has completed the 36th Governor’s Executive Development Program. Mathis serves as an executive board member for the FBI National Academy Associates of Texas, served as president of the Texas Police Association from 2019-2021, and is currently attending the FBI National Executive Institute #44.
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.
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 Lieutenant in Austin and Inspector, Audit and Inspection in 2009. In May 2009, 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/Lt. Colonel of Law Enforcement Services.
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.