Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Andrew Friedrichs as the new executive director of the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division, effective March 1, 2026. The appointment will remain in effect at the discretion of the governor.
Andrew Friedrichs is currently serving as executive director for the Commission on State Emergency Communications. He previously held the position of deputy director at the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division, also known as the Governor’s Public Safety Office. Friedrichs is a veteran who received an honorable discharge from the United States Navy. He 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 operates out of Austin at the State Insurance Building and provides services across Texas through its statewide authority, according to its official website. Since his election in 2014, Greg Abbott has led this office with a focus on job creation, economic opportunity, education enhancement, individual liberties protection, parental empowerment in schooling, and southern border security (source). Under Abbott’s leadership, Texas has seen significant growth in jobs and record employment levels (source). In 2024, TIME included Greg Abbott among its list of the 100 Most Influential People (source).
