Freeman Martin, a senior official at the Texas Department of Public Safety, will serve as the agency’s new executive director beginning next month after the retirement of current DPS director Steve McCraw. Martin, who began at DPS as a highway patrol trooper in 1990, was named to the top agency post by the Public Safety Commission on Wednesday.

Freeman F. Martin named DPS Director, succeeding McCraw upon his retirement on Nov 30, bringing a vast law enforcement background to the role.

Freeman Martin, senior deputy director, will replace Steve McCraw, who announced his retirement from DPS in August.