The Colonel
Colonel Frank Milstead
Director, Arizona Department of Public Safety
On February 10, 2015, Colonel Frank Milstead was selected by Governor Doug Ducey to lead the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS). From 2010-2015, Frank Milstead served as the Chief of Police for the Mesa Police Department and prior to Mesa PD, he served 25-years with the Phoenix Police Department.
Colonel Milstead employs and cultivates an inspiring work environment through interpersonal relationships and open, transparent communication. He has an established track record of suppressing crime through innovative crime-fighting programs, efficient personnel management and technological advancements.
During his tenure with the Phoenix Police Department, Colonel Milstead demonstrated highly successful leadership and management skills, serving in several high-profile positions that included command positions in the Homeland Defense Bureau, Major Offender Bureau and the Traffic
Bureau. He also served in the Unified Command structure for Super Bowl 42 and the 2009 NBA All-Star game.
Colonel Frank Milstead comes from a law enforcement family; his father Colonel Ralph T. Milstead served as Director of DPS from March 1980 thru July 1989.
Colonel Milstead holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix, and is a graduate of the University of Louisville, Southern Police Institute Chief Executive Leadership Program. He also participated in the FBI Leadership in Counterterrorism (LinCT) Pacific 2010-11 program and he is also a graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute Session #35.
Colonel Milstead currently serves as the chair of the Alliance to Combat Transnational Threats (ACTT), an ad hoc group that consists of Federal, State, Tribal, County and Municipal law enforcement agencies which coordinates efforts along the Arizona-Mexico border to dismantle smuggling operations. He also serves as the vice-chair for the Arizona High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), whose mission is to facilitate, support, and enhance collaborative drug control efforts among law enforcement agencies. Colonel Milstead is a Board Member of the FBI National Executive Institute, the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, the Rocky Mountain Information Network (RMIN) and participates on numerous boards and commissions within the State of Arizona on topics to include: human trafficking, substance abuse, border security and traffic safety. Colonel Milstead maintains memberships in the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP). Additionally, Colonel Milstead is a member of Rotary International and a Board Member for the Genesis Academy for at risk youth.
In 2015, Colonel Milstead was honored with the Torch of Liberty Award from the Phoenix Chapter of the Anti-Defamation League for his efforts in fighting organized hate groups, serving as a bridge for open lines of communication between community groups and law enforcement and promoting fair treatment practices. Colonel Milstead is also the recipient of the Medal of Valor, the Rotary 100 Heroism Award and the Medal of Lifesaving.
