Davis Merrell has dedicated his career to higher education, law enforcement training, and public service leadership. He began his tenure at Del Mar College in 2011 after serving in law enforcement since 1992. Davis was an Instructor with the Del Mar College Regional Police Academy, where he taught law enforcement courses, continuing education training, and served as Primary Firearms Instructor. In 2015, he was appointed Department Chair for Public Service, a role that paved the way for his current position as Dean of Industry and Public Service, a post he has held since September 2020.
Academic credentials include an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice from Kilgore College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from LeTourneau University, and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Tarleton State University. He is also a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy (233rd Session).
In addition to his academic and administrative roles, Davis is a licensed Master Peace Officer and holds multiple Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) certifications, including Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Rifle Instructor, Sexual Assault/Family Violence Investigator, and Clandestine Laboratory Operator and Site Safety Officer.
Davis has contributed extensively to institutional leadership through service on hiring committees, the Curriculum Committee, the Collegewide Chairs’ Council (including Chair of the Chairs’ Council), the Deans’ Council, the Executive Team, Faculty Leadership, and the Incident Management Team. His external service includes membership on the Coastal Bend Council of Governments Public Service Protection Committee (2016–2020) and the Prioritization Subcommittee Review & Score Panel (2015–2020). He also contributed to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Legal Update Commission following both the 83rd and 86th Legislative Sessions, helping shape statewide law enforcement training standards. Davis became a Board Member of the Texas Association of College Technical Educators (TACTE) in 2022 and was recently appointed to the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce Education Committee.
Through his blend of academic achievement, law enforcement expertise, and administrative leadership, Davis Merrell continues to advance workforce education and public service training in the Coastal Bend region and beyond.