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 Martin will succeed DPS Director Steven C. McCraw, who will retire at the end of the month after 15 years leading the agency.