Getting to Know TxDMV’s New Executive Director —Daniel Avitia The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) has appointed Daniel Avitia as the organization’s executive director. He joined TxDMV in 2014 as the director of the Motor Vehicle Division and started serving as the interim executive director in February 2022. TADA recently spoke with Daniel about his life, new position and other subjects. Daniel Avitia grew up in the West Texas town of El Paso. He has two brothers, and his family life growing up was steady, supportive and very lowkey. Daniel held multiple leadership roles during high school, serving as a vice president in the student council and for the student body. Daniel married “an amazing woman named Patricia,” he said. Daniel has five children, three young men and two daughters, between the ages of two-and-a-half and 21. They also have two dogs. “I’ve always had dogs, and I always will. Patricia’s dog is a Boston terrier. Mine is a Labrador, Dalmatian and Husky mix with the energy of a Husky,” said Daniel. “I wish I’d had her when I was a runner.” Daniel planned to become a lawyer, so he earned a B.A. with a concentration in pre-law and went on to earn a master’s degree in public administration. He began at the University of Texas at El Paso and completed his education at the University of Texas at Austin. Upon learning that his first child was on the way, he decided not to attend law school. Instead, Daniel focused on a master’s degree part time. This choice allowed Daniel to work full time and continue his education. He has now served in state government for more than 25 years. “I saw the huge potential of serving in state government because of the opportunity to help stakeholders and causes,” said Daniel. “I’ve made a positive difference in the lives of others, and the government has given me many opportunities to have a direct, positive impact throughout the state. Because of my work, I feel personal satisfaction and achievement.” Before working at TxDMV, Daniel held leadership roles in organizations such as the University of Texas at El Paso, the Department of Assisted and Rehabilitative Services, Health and Human Services, and the Department of Agriculture. He particularly enjoyed his work at the University of Texas at El Paso. Daniel was involved in several transformational projects there, such as preparing the Sun Bowl Stadium for soccer games by cutting out the corners to comply with size requirements, securing funding and a contractor for a new campus bookstore and modernizing classrooms. Daniel became interested in working at TxDMV because he always had a passion for automobiles and the motor vehicle industry. During the 1970s, he played with Hot Wheels and had two hot-wheel cities that his children have also played with. As a teenager, he watched automotive shows to see new technologies and learn more about the automotive industry. Joining the executive 12
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