On Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the appointment and reappointment of two members to the Public Safety Commission, which has oversight of the Texas Department of Public Safety. The department holds responsibility for the enforcement of law, public safety, as well as crime prevention and detection.

Businessman Dan Hord from Midland has been appointed to the commission, and Dallas attorney Steve Stodghill has been reappointed, both for terms set to expire at the beginning of 2030. Dan Hord's professional background includes the founding and managing of HEDLOC Investment Company, LP,, and engagement in significant philanthropic efforts, such as the Scharbauer Foundation. As reported by the official Texas Governor's website, Hord also has ties to the Baylor College of Medicine through his board membership.

Steve Stodghill, who will continue to serve on the commission, has an extensive legal career. His involvement extends beyond legal circles to educational and arts institutions, including The University of Texas and the Southern Methodist University. His reappointment solidifies the continued inclusion of experienced legal minds into the fabric of the state's conversations and decision-making around public safety and law enforcement.

As per their biographies on the governor's announcement, both appointees hold numerous involvements in philanthropic and professional boards. Hord is noted for his contributions to educational and religious organizations, having once served on the Baylor University Board of Regents. Stodghill's board memberships cast a wide net across organizations focused on education, legal scholarship, the arts, and apparently, public service. With these appointments, Governor Abbott aligns crucial sectors of Texas' socio-economic fabric — business, law, and philanthropy — under the umbrella of public safety governance.