Governor Abbott Reappoints Former Texas Ranger From Wimberley As The Independent Ombudsman For The Texas Juvenile Justice Department

On Feb. 7, Governor Greg Abbott has reappointed JD Robertson as the Independent Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to a term set to expire on February 1, 2021.

Governor Abbott first appointed Robertson as the Independent Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department in January 2018. The 2018 appointment was to replace former Independent Ombudsman, Debbie Unruh. Unruh had served as the chief of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department since 2010. 

The reappointment is one of many appointments and reappointments to state departments, boards, committees and courts Gov. Abbott has made over the last few weeks.

The Office of Independent Ombudsman is a state agency established for the purpose of investigating, evaluating, and securing the rights of the children committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

JD Robertson of Wimberley is a retired Major with the Texas Rangers with more than 27 years of service to the Texas Department of Public Safety. As a former Commander of the Texas Rangers Special Operations Group, he managed the special weapons and tactics team, bomb squad, reconnaissance team, special response teams, crisis negotiations unit, and border security operations.

He is a member of the FBI National Academy Associates and a former member of the National Tactical Officers Association and the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts.

Robertson was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force after six years of service. He is also a graduate of both the FBI National Academy and the United States Naval Post Graduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security Executive Leadership Program.

Robertson received an Associates of Applied Science with a focus on Industrial Security from the Community College of the Air Force, a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from the University of Maryland University College, and a Master of Science in applied criminology from Texas A&M University-Commerce.