Special Operations Group
The leadership team and members of the Special Operations Group welcomes you to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and web site. The Special Operations Group was created by Director McCraw in October of 2011 to address the growing escalation in illegal narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and escalation of violence in the Texas Border region. The Special Operations Group is comprised of six programs designed to effectively deal with the threats posed by criminal organizations, terrorists (both international and domestic), and the threats posed to the border region by drug trafficking organizations (DTO’s). The Special Operations Group leverages the Department’s assets and resources to resolve critical incidents, through a task force initiative under the incident command structure. The members names are not posted here due to the high risk nature of their job. Thank you for your interest in the Texas Rangers and visiting the Special Operations web page.
Special Operations Group Commanders
Special Weapons and Tactics
Joint Operations and Intelligence Centers
Reconnaissance Team
Special Response Team
- The Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) is a highly trained team headquartered in Austin, whose primary mission is responding statewide to critical incidents of a high risk nature; such as hostage situations, barricaded subjects, active shooter incidents and high risk warrant service.
- The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (EOD) is currently in the development and training process and will be embedded with the SWAT team. This unit will provide a primary response to crisis situations involving explosive devices, improvised explosive devices, vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, as well as communicated threats involving explosive devices.
- The Ranger Reconnaissance Team is a highly trained tactical team whose primary responsibility is to carry out specific missions, usually along the Texas-Mexico border region or wherever needed. The team is designed to conduct both overt and extended covert operations in remote areas where conventional law enforcement cannot operate. The teams focus is to gather intelligence, conduct interdiction, and disruption of criminal activity usually associated with drug cartels.
- Special Response Teams (SRT) is specialized teams which operate on an “as needed” basis and are located within each of the DPS Regions. SRT is comprised of a cross section of officers from Texas Highway Patrol, Criminal Investigations Division and the Texas Rangers. SRT members are trained to conduct high risk warrant service and provide initial response to critical incidents involving barricaded subjects, hostage situations, and active shooter incidents within their respective DPS regions.
- Crisis Negotiation Teams (CNT) is specialized teams who are trained to facilitate the professional resolution of critical incidents involving emotionally disturbed individuals, hostage situations, and/or barricaded subjects. CNT members are comprised of a cross section of officers from Texas Highway Patrol, Criminal Investigations Division and the Texas Rangers, who respond to incidents within their respective regions. CNT members deploy as a team and are tasked with the evaluation and resolution of the critical incident, collection of necessary intelligence, and relaying incident information to the Special Operations Commander.
- Border Security Operations Center (BSOC) - Joint Operations and Intelligence Centers (JOIC). The Border Security Operations Center (BSOC) is headquartered in Austin and serves as the focal point for the six Joint Operations and Intelligence Centers (JOICs) located along the Texas/Mexico border. Responsibilities include analyzing intelligence and collecting border security information, while collaborating with state, local, and federal law enforcement partners to conduct intelligence-directed border enforcement operations and ensure information exchange between agencies. BSOC is tasked with the timely dissemination of intelligence through a variety of mediums to law enforcement and governmental partners, including the in-depth weekly Border Operations Sector Assessment of the Texas/Mexico border. BSOC operates the State of Texas’ technology initiatives to combat criminal and border exploitation while supporting tactical initiatives, such as the Special Operations Group.
SOG Support Staff
Karin Lodge-Hendley – Drawbridge Program Manager - BSOC
Brandi Prinz – Grant Coordinator - BSOC
Gregory Gosdin – Analytics Specialist - BSOC
Valery Hitt – Data Support Specialist - BSOC
Shawn Cobb – Wireless Communications Specialist - BSOC
Robert Boatright – Border Liaison Officer - JOIC
Donald Carter – Border Liaison Officer - JOIC
Arthur Miller – Border Liaison Officer - JOIC
Austin Skero – Border Liaison Officer - JOIC
Jose Villarreal – Border Liaison Officer - JOIC
