Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Andrew Friedrichs as the new Executive Director of the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division, with the appointment effective March 1, 2026. Friedrichs will serve in this position at the discretion of the Governor.
Friedrichs, based in Austin, is currently serving as executive director for the Commission on State Emergency Communications. His prior experience includes work as deputy director of the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division, which is also known as the Governor’s Public Safety Office. He served in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged. Friedrichs holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Arts in criminology from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
The Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, located in Austin at the State Insurance Building, delivers services across Texas and has focused on initiatives such as job creation, economic opportunity, education improvement, protection of individual liberties, parental involvement in schooling decisions, and southern border security. More information about these efforts can be found on its official website. Since his election in 2014, Governor Abbott has led these statewide activities and earned national recognition for his leadership when he was named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2024.
Friedrichs’ appointment comes at a time when Texas continues to lead nationally in jobs growth and employment records under Governor Abbott’s administration (source).
