Fired Texas A&M Executive Hired By Texas DPS
AUSTIN (AP) - A close friend of Gov. Rick Perry's who was fired as a Texas A&M University System executive after brandishing a pocket knife has a new job -- assistant director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Jay Kimbrough, 64, is the new second-in-command at the DPS, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Director Steve McCraw said Kimbrough will oversee homeland security at the state's police agency.
McCraw said he recruited the Perry confidant because he had served as the state's homeland security director after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He said he created the new position to help manage and coordinate the growing homeland security functions in Texas, and chose Kimbrough from among 29 applicants. Kimbrough's salary will be $147,500.
"There was nobody who was even close to as qualified as he is," he said.
A&M System Chancellor John Sharp ousted Kimbrough from his $300,000-a-year deputy chancellor's job last fall. System attorneys say Kimbrough brandished a pocket knife after they told him of his termination. No charges were filed, but police escorted him from the building.
McCraw told the American-Statesman that the A&M incident did not influence his decision one way or the other.
"We just stuck with the facts" that no crime was committed, McCraw told the American-Statesman. "We made an evidence-based decision."
Kimbrough is a longtime friend of and troubleshooter for Perry, a former Texas A&M student. He served as Perry's chief of staff in 2008-09, deputy chief of staff in 2002 and 2004-05, and as Perry's homeland security director in 2003-04.
Kimbrough was Perry's special adviser to the A&M System Board of Regents in 2009-11, then served as deputy chancellor and interim chancellor after Mike McKinney stepped down as chancellor in early July. He relinquished those duties when Sharp was installed.
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