Command Staff
Colonel Heston Silbert - Director
Heston Silbert was confirmed as Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety in March 2020. Prior to that, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Department in February 2015. Colonel Silbert retired from the Phoenix Police Department with 22-years of service. After his retirement from the Phoenix Police Department, he was hired as a Commander by the Mesa Police Department, where he assumed command of the Red Mountain Division. In May of 2011, he was promoted to Assistant Chief of Police for the Operations Bureau, and in 2013 he was promoted to Executive Officer.
Colonel Silbert began his career as a patrol officer in South Phoenix at the South Mountain Precinct. After working in a patrol capacity he was transferred to work on a proactive enforcement squad that conducted gang and drug investigations. During this assignment, Colonel Silbert also worked in an undercover capacity.
Colonel Silbert continued his career working street gangs, but also mentoring at risk youth in the Foothills Housing Projects of South Phoenix, where he was a PAL officer. After this assignment, he continued to investigate street gangs as a detective on the Night Gang Enforcement Unit in the Organized Crime Bureau. Colonel Silbert was also a member of the FBI Violent Street Gang Task Force where he and members of the unit conducted wire-tap and conspiracy investigations.
After his assignment in the Gang Unit and the FBI Violent Street Gang Task Force, he was selected to be a member of the Special Assignments Unit (SAU/SWAT). After several years with SAU, Colonel Silbert was promoted to sergeant where he worked at both the Squaw Peak Precinct and again in South Phoenix at the South Mountain Precinct. During these years he was selected as Supervisor of the Year and Police Officer of the Year. After his assignment as a Field Training Sergeant in South Phoenix, he was promoted to lieutenant.
As a lieutenant he served in Patrol, Systems Integration, the Vehicular Crimes Unit, the Special Assignments Unit, the Police Academy, and as Unit Commander of the Major Offender Bureau’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit and Career Criminal Squad. Colonel Silbert holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. He also holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University. He is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, the FBI National Academy and is also a graduate of the Police Executive Leadership Institute.
Lt. Col. Ken Hunter - Deputy Director
In March 2020, Director Heston Silbert selected Lieutenant Colonel Ken Hunter to serve as the Deputy Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZ DPS). Prior to this appointment, Lt. Colonel Hunter was serving in the appointed position of Assistant Director of the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, commanding the Intelligence, Investigations, Gang Enforcement and Border Strike Force Bureaus. Lt. Colonel Hunter also previously held the appointed position of Assistant Director of the Agency Support Division, directing the Logistics and Management Services Bureaus, as well as the Human Resources Section. These bureaus exist to support the mission critical units of AZ DPS such as Recruiting, Training, Finance, Public Records, Fleet, Aviation, and Peer Support, to name just a few.
Lt. Colonel Hunter began his career as a trooper with the AZ DPS in September of 1989 and was assigned to the Highway Patrol Division in Winslow, Arizona. As a trooper he completed assignments in motors, commercial vehicle enforcement and as a detective assigned to gang enforcement.
Lt. Colonel Hunter promoted to sergeant and was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division. He supervised a gang enforcement squad in southern Arizona responsible for documenting and investigating criminal street gangs and transnational criminal organizations. Additionally, he held supervisory assignments at the Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy and the Internal Affairs Unit.
After promoting to captain, he was assigned to the Arizona High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area where he facilitated, supported and enhanced collaborative drug control efforts among law enforcement agencies. He also held command assignments in the Southern Gang Enforcement District, the Southern Commercial Vehicle District, and Canine District.
Lt. Colonel Hunter holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Safety Administration from Grand Canyon University. He is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police, Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the Leadership in Police Organizations Command program.
Lt. Col. Daniel Lugo - Assistant Director
Criminal Investigations Unit
In April of 2015, DPS Director Frank Milstead promoted Danny Lugo from the rank of Major to Lt. Colonel and assigned him as Assistant Director of the Highway Patrol Division. On August 5th, 2017 Lt. Col. Lugo was appointed to the Assistant Director position over the Criminal Investigations Division. In March 2019, Lt. Col. Lugo was appointed to the Assistant Director position in the Agency Support Division and on July 2nd, 2022, under Department of Public Safety Director Heston Silbert, Lt. Col. Lugo was appointed to the Assistant Director position in the Criminal Investigations Unit, where he serves currently.
During his thirty-one years as an Arizona State Trooper, he has held a variety of positions in the Highway Patrol Division and the Criminal Investigations Division throughout the state. Lt. Colonel Lugo has spent approximately twenty-two-years of his career in the Criminal Investigations Division serving in several multi-agency task forces. Prior to his promotion, he served as the Investigations Bureau Commander over statewide Narcotics Enforcement, Auto Theft Task Force, SWAT, and Homicide Investigations (Major Crimes Unit) at the rank of major. Lt. Colonel Lugo served for approximately three years as the full-time SWAT Commander and has approximately 17 years of total SWAT experience as a SWAT Operator, Assistant Team Leader, Team Leader and Commander.
He served three years as the Highway Patrol District Commander in Tucson and approximately one and one-half years as the State Gang Task Force Border District Commander, both at the rank of captain. Lt. Colonel Lugo was assigned to the State Gang Task Force on four separate occasions throughout his career and one year as a Border Intelligence Commander, at the rank of lieutenant. As a sergeant, he served a three-year assignment at the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC), which is a multi-agency intelligence fusion center.
His additional assignments in the Criminal Investigations Division as a sergeant were in the areas of Financial Investigations, Administrative Sergeant, Intelligence Supervisor, Undercover Narcotics Detective and Supervisor, Major Offenders Unit Detective and Supervisor, Meth Lab Task Force Supervisor, State Gang Task Force Supervisor (as well as a Detective), and SWAT Team Leader.
Lt. Colonel Lugo attended the Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy, the Pima County Corrections Officer Basic Academy, and honorably served four years in the United States Marine Corps with assignments in Japan, South Korea, and California. He is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the West Point Leadership in Police Organizations (LPO) Command program. In March of 2016, he graduated from the FBI National Academy Session #263 in Quantico, Virginia. Lt. Colonel Lugo has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership.
Lt. Colonel Lugo was instrumental in starting the Tucson Chapter of the Latino Peace Officers Association (LPOA) and served as Tucson Chapter President for two years. He is also a Lifetime Member of the LPOA. He is a proud member of the Arizona State Troopers Association (ASTA), State Troopers Coalition, International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP), National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 32.
Lt. Col. Jenna Mitchell - Assistant Director
Agency Support Division
In July 2019, Jenna Mitchell was appointed to Assistant Director (Lieutenant Colonel) assigned to the Highway Patrol Division of the Department of Public Safety and on July 2nd, 2022, Lt. Col. Mitchell was appointed to the Assistant Director position in the Agency Support Division, where she serves currently.
Lt. Colonel Mitchell began her career as an officer trainee in July of 1993. She attended the Phoenix Regional Police Academy and became a trooper in May of 1995. Her first assignment was to the Highway Patrol in District Six, Casa Grande. During this assignment she served as a field training officer, general instructor, phlebotomist, reserve coordinator, and she also coordinated the first Citizen Academy in District Six.
While assigned as a trooper in District Six, she was recognized as the District Six and Southern Highway Patrol Bureau Officer of the Year in 2000. She promoted to sergeant in 2001, and remained in the Highway Patrol in District Six, Casa Grande.
She promoted to captain in March of 2006; she was assigned to the Management Services Bureau where she was responsible for the Research and Planning Section, the Safety and Loss Unit, and the Public Records Section. She also held command assignments in the Highway Patrol Metro East District, Southern Gang Enforcement District, and the Canine District.
Lt. Colonel Mitchell was recognized in 2011 as the Criminal Investigations Division Commander of the Year and was the recipient of the Director’s Unit Citation for her role in the development of the Advanced Criminal Interdiction Training Program.
Lt. Colonel Mitchell promoted to the rank of major in May of 2015 and has served as the chief of staff for the Criminal Investigations Division, as well as the Agency Support Division. As chief of staff, she was involved with the implementation of major technological improvements in both divisions, with a strong focus on performance management, efficiency, and employee and leadership development.
Lt. Colonel Mitchell holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Arizona State University. She is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police, Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the Leadership in Police Organizations Command program.
Lt. Col. Daven Byrd - Assistant Director
Technical Services Division
In July 2022, Daven Byrd was promoted from the rank of Major to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed as the Assistant Director of the Technical Services Division by Director of the Department of Public Safety, Colonel Heston Silbert.
Lt. Colonel Byrd began his law enforcement career in 2005 as a State Trooper assigned to the Highway Patrol Division and has since held various assignments in each of the Department’s operational and support divisions. As a State Trooper, his first assignment was patrolling the Camp Verde/Cottonwood/Sedona area of Yavapai County. In 2008, he accepted an assignment to the Vehicular Crimes Unit within the Criminal Investigations Division and relocated to Phoenix. He then completed assignments as the Department’s State Trooper Academy Coordinator, Field Training Program Coordinator, Impaired Driving Enforcement Programs Coordinator, and Sworn Professional Development Coordinator.
In 2015, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assigned to supervise the Vehicular Crimes Unit. He then completed assignments as the Operations Sergeant in the Criminal Investigations and Agency Support Divisions. In 2017, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and assigned as the Operational Training Section Commander, where he oversaw the Department’s Field Training Program, Lateral State Trooper Academy, Firearms Training Unit, Use of Force and Defensive Tactics Program, and Emergency Vehicle Operations Training. In 2018, he was assigned as the Bureau Commander managing the Information Management Bureau and as the Department’s Chief Information Officer. In 2020, Lt. Colonel Byrd was promoted to the rank of Major and assigned as the Highway Patrol Division’s Chief of Staff where he served until his promotion to Lt. Colonel.
Lt. Colonel Byrd is a graduate of Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and a Master of Public Administration.
Lt. Col. Timothy Chung - Assistant Director
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Task Force
In June 2012, Timothy Chung was promoted from the rank of Major to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed as the Assistant Director of the Criminal Investigations Division. In July 2015, Department of Public Safety Director Frank Milstead appointed Lt. Colonel Chung as the Assistant Director of the Technical Services Division. On July 2nd, 2022, Lt. Col. Chung was appointed to the Assistant Director position of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Task Force, by Department of Public Safety Director Heston Silbert, where he serves currently.
Lt. Colonel Chung began his law enforcement career at the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office in Parker, Arizona, in June 1986, where he held the positions of jailer, dispatcher, patrol deputy, investigator, and sergeant.
In December 1991, Lt. Colonel Chung joined the ranks of DPS and has held various assignments in each of the Department’s operational and support divisions. As an officer, his first assignment was patrolling the Quartzsite/Parker area. In 1994, he relocated to Phoenix and held assignments in the Vehicle Theft Investigations Unit and the Special Investigations Unit.
In 1998, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned to the Highway Patrol Division’s District Eight, in Nogales, Arizona, until he transferred back to Phoenix to oversee the Special Investigations Unit in 2000. In 2002, Lt. Colonel Chung was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and led the Major Crimes Investigation District. He transferred to an administrative staff position in the Criminal Justice Support Division, currently the Technical Services Division, in 2005. In 2007, he was responsible for forming the Immigration Enforcement District and led the multi-agency Illegal Immigration Prevention and Apprehension Co-op Teams (IIMPACT) and Arizona Fraudulent Identification Task Force.
In 2008, Lt. Colonel Chung was promoted to the rank of Major overseeing the Gang Enforcement Bureau which comprised the statewide multi-agency Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (GIITEM). He served as Chief of Staff/Executive Officer for the Technical Services Division from 2009 to 2011. From 2011 until his promotion to Lt. Colonel, he worked within the Director’s Office overseeing the Management Services Bureau.
Lt. Colonel Chung has had many accomplishments, received numerous awards, and served on numerous work groups at the Department. He earned his Certified Public Manager national certification from Arizona State University and is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, the International Association of Chiefs of Police Leadership in Police Organizations, and the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government. He holds an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Law Enforcement Technology, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Education, majoring in Human Services, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration, specializing in Government Administration.
Lt. Col. Deston Coleman - Assistant Director
Highway Patrol Division
Lt. Colonel Deston Coleman Jr. was promoted and appointed as the Assistant Director of the Criminal Investigations Division on March 21, 2020 and on July 2nd, 2022, Lt. Col. Coleman was appointed to the Assistant Director position in the Highway Patrol Division, where he now serves currently. The Highway Patrol Division provides law enforcement services throughout the state, assuring the safety and efficiency of the highway transportation system, in addition to providing support to local and county law enforcement agencies. The Highway Patrol Division also provides services and enforcement for commercial motor vehicles, tow trucks, student transportation, and safety programs.
In 1991, Lt. Colonel Coleman began his career with the Arizona Department of Public Safety as a cadet officer. After graduation, he worked in the Highway Patrol Division as a state trooper in Bullhead City. As a trooper, he completed assignments in Gila Bend and Metro Phoenix Patrol, the Vehicular Crimes Unit, and the State Gang Task Force.
Lt. Colonel Coleman promoted to sergeant and was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division. He supervised the Vehicular Crimes Unit and was responsible for the investigation and prosecution of vehicular homicides throughout the State of Arizona. Additionally, he held supervisory assignments in the Special Investigations Unit and Internal Affairs.
After promoting to captain, Lt. Colonel Coleman was assigned to Metro Phoenix Patrol, Shift Three. He also held command assignments in the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau and Internal Affairs. Lt. Colonel Coleman took command of the Gang Enforcement Bureau when he promoted to major, then served as the commander for the Metro Phoenix Patrol Bureau, prior to his appointment as the Chief of Staff of the Highway Patrol Division.
Lt. Colonel Coleman holds a bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies from Arizona State University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (Class 269), the IACP Leadership in Police Organizations, and the Arizona State University Certified Public Manager Program.
Superintendent Bill Long - Assistant Director
Major Incident Division
Superintendent Long is an Arizona native and accomplished law enforcement professional with a diverse and well-rounded career spanning over 30 years including command and executive level experience.
In April 2020, Superintendent Long was selected as the Chief Detective for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, where he led a premier law enforcement division supporting the third largest prosecuting agency in the United States, serving over 4 million residents. During Superintendent Long's tenure, he had the opportunity to review and analyze incidents involving law enforcement use of force, cybersecurity issues, and other challenges facing the criminal justice system. The position required Superintendent to have exceptional and interactive relationships with law enforcement officials and prosecutors.
In 2019, Superintendent Long served as the Deputy Director for the Arizona Department of Homeland Security which included management and administration of federal grant programs known as the State Homeland Security Grant Program, Urban Area Security Initiative, Operation Stonegarden Grant Program, and Nonprofit Security Grant Program with a yearly budget of over 25 million dollars. Superintendent was involved in the strategic planning and direction over critical issues such as terrorism prevention, border security, and cybersecurity issues affecting our state. Superintendent Long participated in the Human Trafficking Council, Arizona Cyber Team, Countering Disinformation Task Force, and was selected by the Chief Operating Officer for the State of Arizona to participate on the Law Enforcement Management Team to address public safety issues.
In 2018, Superintendent Long was selected as the Director of Investigations and Law Enforcement Development for International Justice Mission (IJM) and stationed in Bangkok, Thailand. During his assignment, he developed, trained, and mentored a field investigative unit conducting covert operations focused on combating human trafficking and forced labor in Thailand's commercial fishing industry. During his role in Thailand, he was responsible for providing expert consultation and problem analysis to law enforcement agencies in the region; therefore, strengthening the criminal justice system's capacity to combat human trafficking and forced labor.
In 2017, Superintendent Long served as an Assistant Chief of Police and Interim Chief of Police for the City of El Mirage Police Department. During his assignment, Superintendent Long assisted the El Mirage Police Department manage their first police officer line-of-duty death and transitioning the future leadership of the agency.
In 2015, Superintendent Long was appointed to the Arizona Department of Public Safety and promoted to Inspector II. He commanded the Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureau and Central GIITEM Unit. The position also required him to function as the Director of the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC). The ACTIC became operational in 2004 and is widely considered an industry leader in combating threats impacting Arizona's citizens and our critical infrastructure. Superintendent Long transitioned the ACTIC Watch Center to a state-of-the-art twenty-four-seven operation and implemented a facial recognition unit. Superintendent Long was instrumental in developing a Conspiracy Squad that targeted large-scale Drug Trafficking Organizations operating in Arizona using various investigative techniques and electronic surveillance.
From 1989 until 2015, Superintendent Long was employed with the Phoenix Police Department where he enjoyed assignments in the Patrol Bureau, Gang Enforcement Unit, Drug Enforcement Bureau, Special Projects Unit, Organized Crime Bureau, Homeland Defense Bureau, Major Offender Bureau, Arizona Financial Crimes Task Force, and the Violent Crimes Bureau/Homicide Unit. During Superintendent's time in the Violent Crimes Bureau (2009 and 2014), his team was responsible for investigating homicides, officer-involved shootings, and in-custody deaths.
Superintendent Long is a graduate of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC), where he studied Vietnamese culture and language, ultimately earning his Linguist Certification. In 2005, Superintendent was selected to participate in a Fulbright-Hayes language initiative entitled Vietnamese Advanced Summer Immersion program. This intensive summer immersion program required him to reside in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Superintendent Long has earned a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Police Science from Ottawa University, and is a graduate of Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command.
Superintendent Long has been honored to work with some of the greatest men and women in United States law enforcement at the federal and state levels.
Inspector Andres Vasquez - Executive Officer
Office of the Director
Inspector Andres Vasquez is the current Executive Officer for the Arizona Department of Public Safety (the Department). He previously served with the Department from 1980-2016, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel (Assistant Director) after 35 years of service. Upon retirement, Lt. Col. Vasquez was appointed by Governor Ducey to serve on the Council for Judicial Appointments and the Law Enforcement Merit System Council, both of which required Senate confirmation. Lt. Col. Vasquez returned to the Department in 2018 as the Equal Employment Office Manager before his appointment to his current, sworn position as Inspector II.
In addition to serving as an Assistant Director and the Chief of Staff for the Criminal Investigations Division, he has served as a commander for SWAT, Metro Gangs, and Southern Arizona Narcotics.
Inspector Vasquez has participated in over 1,000 high risk entries/operations as the SWAT commander and team member. He was the SWAT commander for the Lewis Prison hostage standoff, the longest prison hostage standoff in the U.S. He spent eleven years working undercover, including time spent as a member of the FBI Violent Street Crime Task Force. He served on the Governors Security Detail for four years, and has worked as a SWAT team member, as well as assignments in Gangs, Narcotics, Investigations, Liquor, Motors, Fatal Team Investigator, Patrol, and Recruiting.
Prior to working for the Department, Inspector Vasquez was a police officer with the Avondale Police Department and served four years in the United States Air Force.
Inspector Vasquez is an Arizona Post certified instructor and has instructed in the areas of Intelligence-led Policing, Undercover Operations, SWAT, Gangs, Officer Safety, Search Warrants, Community Relations, and Equal Employment.
He is a founding member and sits on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Gang Investigator’s Association, and sits on the Board of Directors for Safe Harbor Support, which provides immediate connection and on-going support to those who have experienced the loss of a loved one. He served on the Governing Board for the Metropolitan Area Narcotics Trafficking Interdiction Squad (MANTIS-Tucson/Pima County). Inspector Vasquez is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Tactical Officers Association.
