Henry Guzmán

Director, Ohio Department of Public Safety

On February 12, 2007, Governor Ted Strickland appointed Henry Guzmán to serve as the director for the Ohio Department of Public Safety.  In this cabinet- level position, Director Guzmán advises the Governor and staff on issues relating to the divisions within ODPS.  These divisions include:  Homeland Security, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Emergency Management Agency,  Emergency Medical Services, Ohio Investigative Unit, Criminal Justice Services and Administration.

Prior to his appointment, Guzmán served as director of the City of Columbus Department of Public Service where he oversaw the operations of the divisions of Fleet Management, Refuse Collection and Transportation and served as acting mayor when Mayor Michael Coleman was out of the city. In that capacity,  he also served as vice chair of the executive board of the  Franklin County Emergency Management Agency and as a member of the Policy Board of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.

From 1999-2002, Guzmán was director of the Department of Public Safety for the City of Cleveland, where he also served, from 1992-1999, as director of the Department of Public Service. From 1990-1992, he served as director of Program Development for the office of the Ohio Attorney General. In that role, Guzmán revised procedures for the DARE Program, resulting in more efficient responses to grantees. From 1987-1990, he served as deputy director of the Ohio Department of Liquor Control.

A native of Villalba, Puerto Rico, Guzmán was raised in Youngstown, Ohio.  He is a U.S. Army veteran, earning a  Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for Valor for his service in Vietnam.

Guzmán received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Youngstown State University in August 1977, and pursued a year of graduate study in the Masters Program of the Antioch Law School in Washington, D.C., where he was awarded a Certificate in Equal Opportunity Law. He is a 2001 graduate of  the Leadership Cleveland Class and received Certification in the Senior Executives of State and Local  Government from the JFK School of Government, Harvard University.

Henry and his wife, Nydia, have four grown children and nine grandchildren.

                                  George T. Maier

                                   Assistant Director, Ohio Department of Public Safety


In May 2007, Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Henry Guzmán announced George T. Maier would join the Department of Public Safety as Assistant Director.

With his extensive background in law enforcement administration and operations support, as well as a strong commitment to community involvement and cooperation, Maier was appointed to one of the largest agencies in the state to help the Department build collaborative relationships with local, state and federal partners to promote statewide highway safety and public safety goals and initiatives. In his leadership role, Maier directs day-to-day agency operations and advises the Director, Governor’s Office and staff on issues relating to the Department, concentrating on the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Investigative Unit and the Ohio Traffic Safety Office.

A 24-year veteran with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Maier retired May 18, 2007 as Jackson District Commander – a position he held since his promotion to   Captain in 2004. He began his career with the Ohio State Highway Patrol in 1983 as a trooper assigned to the   Wooster Post, and was a member of the 112th Cadet Class of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy. During   his career, he served in assignments at the Massillon, Cambridge, New Philadelphia and Steubenville Posts.   He also previously served as Steubenville Post Commander (1998-2002) and Massillon District Assistant   Commander (2002-2004).

  Maier received State Trooper of the Year, District Trooper of the Year and Post Trooper of the Year honors   in   1991 and was a past recipient of the Blue Max “Ace” Auto Larceny Award as well as a state award from Mothers   Against Drunk Driving for his active involvement in community and educational programs. Prior to joining the   Ohio State Highway Patrol, Maier served two years as an officer with the Hartville Police Department in Stark   County.

  A Massillon native, Maier has three adult sons and currently resides in Pickerington with his wife, Misty.