The Texas Department of Public Safety has appointed two key leadership positions, naming Vanessa Mayo as Chief of the Finance Division and John Kelley as Assistant Chief of the Information Technology Division during a recent Public Safety Commission meeting.
Mayo, who began her career with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) in 2005, brings nearly two decades of financial management experience to her new role. After serving in various positions at TABC including Chief Financial Officer, she joined DPS in 2022 as assistant chief of the Finance Division where she quickly made her mark by implementing an automated travel solution.
“The Finance and IT Divisions are critical to the vitality and efficiency of this department,” said DPS Colonel Freeman F. Martin. “Without these divisions, we simply cannot do the work we need to do across this state, so I am thrilled with these appointments, and I look forward to seeing the tremendous work these individuals will do in the years ahead.”
Mayo’s credentials include a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s in international business from the University of Texas at El Paso. Perhaps more notably, she’s maintained certification as a fraud examiner for 13 years — an expertise that will likely prove valuable in her oversight of the department’s financial operations.
Tech Leadership Bolstered
What makes an effective IT leader in today’s complex government landscape? John Kelley seems to have the answer. The newly appointed Assistant Chief of the Information Technology Division brings over 20 years of diverse experience across multiple sectors including manufacturing, oil and gas, healthcare, and government.
Kelley most recently served as director of IT infrastructure – system services at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. There, he managed approximately 150 IT professionals and oversaw enterprise-scale operations. His background includes a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications engineering technology from Texas A&M University.
The appointments come at a time when state agencies face increasing demands for both fiscal responsibility and technological advancement. Mayo’s experience with financial oversight and Kelley’s background in managing large-scale IT infrastructure position them well to address these challenges.
For DPS, an agency responsible for everything from driver license services to state trooper operations, having strong leadership in these behind-the-scenes but critical divisions could make the difference between smooth operations and public frustration. That’s particularly true as the department continues to modernize its services while managing taxpayer resources.
With these appointments now official, both Mayo and Kelley face the immediate task of supporting DPS operations across the vast Lone Star State — where public safety needs can vary dramatically from urban centers to remote rural communities.
