Colonel Steven C. McCraw Retires After 15 Years as Texas DPS Director

After 15 years of service as the Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Colonel Steven C. McCraw bid farewell to personnel today as he departed DPS Headquarters in Austin for the final time.

“Director Steve McCraw has headed the Texas Department of Public Safety with integrity and dedication for the last 15 years,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “I thank him for his exceptional service to the state and for always upholding the rule of law. His legacy will live on for generations.”

State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa praised McCraw for his leadership, calling him “a skilled administrator, a tireless leader, and a strong advocate for the agency.” Public Safety Commission Chairman Steven P. Mach credited McCraw’s visionary leadership with transforming DPS into a premier law enforcement agency.

Under McCraw’s tenure, DPS underwent significant advancements, including a transition to a regional command structure, increased officer pay, state-of-the-art equipment, and higher hiring standards. More than 3,000 recruits graduated from the DPS Training Academy during his time as Director.

McCraw’s law enforcement career began in 1977 as a DPS Trooper. His career included service as an FBI Special Agent and as Texas Homeland Security Director before his appointment as DPS Director in 2009.

“Serving as the Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety has been the greatest honor of my life,” McCraw said. “I leave knowing that the future of this department is in the best possible hands.”

DPS staff honored McCraw with a video series titled “Honoring a Lifetime of Service” and a ceremonial sendoff earlier this week, where personnel from all divisions lined the drive and aircraft flew overhead as he departed the campus.