The Public Safety Commission oversees the DPS. Its five members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the state senate for staggered, six-year terms.

A. Cynthia "Cindy" Leon, Chair
P.O. Box 4087
Austin, TX  78773-0110

A. Cynthia "Cindy" Leon of Mission is a retired Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She is a life member of the Naval Reserve Association, Navy League, U.S. Naval Institute and the Reserve Officers Association. She is also a member of the International Women's Forum and Leadership Texas, and past chair of the Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio Federal Executive Boards. She served as a Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Leon earned a bachelor's degree from Austin College and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, VA. Leon is the current chair of the Public Safety Commission. Her term as a member expires on Jan. 1, 2016.

Carin Marcy Barth, Member
P.O. Box 56048
Houston, TX  77256-6048

Barth is co-founder and president of LB Capital Inc., a private equity investment firm established in 1988. She serves on the board of Western Refining Inc., Encore Bancshares, Inc and is chairman of the Endowment at Texas Tech University. Additionally, she is a board member of the Methodist Hospital Research Institute and the Ronald McDonald House of Houston. She formerly served on the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents and was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as chief financial officer of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 2004-2005. Barth received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and a master’s degree in business administration from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. She replaces Ernest Angelo of Midland, who formerly served as chairman of the commission, for a term to expire Dec. 31, 2013.

Ada Brown, Member
300 Crescent Court, Suite 1500
Dallas, TX  75201

Ada Brown of Dallas is an attorney at McKool Smith. She is a past Dallas County Criminal Court Judge and past prosecutor with the Dallas County District Attorney's office. She is a board member of the Dallas Bar Association and chair of its Criminal Justice Committee, and a barrister in the Patrick E. Higginbotham Inn of Court. Brown also teaches trial advocacy as an adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University's School of Law. Additionally, she is a member of the JL Turner Legal Society, Mensa Genius Society, American Bar Association and Northway Christian Church. Brown received a bachelor's degree from Spelman College and a law degree from Emory University School of Law. She has served as a commissioner since October 2008 and was reappointed by the Governor for a term to expire Dec. 31, 2017.

Allan B. Polunsky, Member
17806 IH 10 West, Suite 450
San Antonio, TX 78257

Allan B. Polunsky is managing partner and founder of Polunsky and Beitel L.L.P. He is a past member of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, where he served 13 years, including five as chairman. He is also past president of the City of San Antonio Industrial Development Authority, past chairman of the San Antonio Zoning Commission and a past board member of the Finance Commission of Texas. Additionally, Polunsky is a past board member of the San Antonio River Authority, Special Olympics of Texas and San Antonio Food Bank. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from St. Mary’s University, where he was a member of the national honorary legal fraternity, Phi Delta Phi. A member of the Public Safety Commission since March 2007, Mr. Polunsky served as chair of the Commission from 2008 to March 2012. He was reappointed by the governor in December 2009, for six additional years, and his term expires December 30, 2015.

Randy Watson, Member
610 West Daggett
Fort Worth, Texas 76104

Randy Watson of Burleson is chairman and CEO of Justin Brands Inc., a division of Berkshire Hathaway. He is president of the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, executive committee member of the Texas Future Farmers of America Foundation and Fort Worth Stock Show, and former vice chair of the Texas Ranger Association Foundation. Watson is a member of the Texas Association of Manufacturers, Texas Association of Business, University of Houston Letterman's Association, and Fort Worth Stock Show Calf Scramble Committee. He is also past president of the Joshua Independent School District Board of Trustees, past board member of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, and a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He was appointed to the commission in December 2012, and his term expires Jan. 1, 2018.

Commission meetings are held at the call of the Chairman. All meetings are open to the public and announced in the Texas Register and the Open Meetings website at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/ . The public is invited to attend all meetings.

Minutes are posted after they have been approved by the Commission.

Liaison for the PSC (512) 424-7771