Governor McMaster at a press conference Wednesday announced that he is nominating Robert G. Woods IV as the new director of the S.C. Department of Public Safety (SCDPS).
“Nobody is better suited to lead the South Carolina Department of Public Safety than Mr. Woods,” McMaster said. “His proven ability to lead and solve complex problems through innovative policy decisions and public outreach will continue to serve South Carolina well and will help the agency maintain its status as one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the country.”
Woods spent 29 years with the South Carolina Highway Patrol and has been the acting director of the SCDPS since February at the beginning of this year.
“Serving as Director of SCDPS was something I would have never imagined during my time with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, but serving this department and my state in an interim director capacity has truly been one of the greatest privileges of my career,” Woods said. “My primary goal has been to stabilize the department and break down any barriers leading to inefficiencies so that our personnel are energized and excited about their jobs and the challenge of serving this state’s citizens with excellence.”
Before being named the SCDPS director, McMaster’s nomination for Woods must be approved by the South Carolina Senate.
