Response to the Substance Abuse Epidemic

Debra Hodges is a native Texan and attended Texas Tech University, where she earned her degree in English Education. Later, she completed her Master of Education with a Specialization in Special Education Behavior Disorders at Iowa State University. She has 25 years of experience in educating a widely diverse student population. Debra’s unique approach to connecting with both students and their families has earned her widespread respect from administrators, parents, and students alike.

 In her current role as the Chief Executive Officer of Operation360, Debra Hodges is committed to a mission that aims to bridge the gaps in services for those in need. Her central focus revolves around the creation of a comprehensive system that connects victims, their families, and friends with essential resources. Debra’s vision is to foster an environment of collaboration between schools, communities, social service agencies, law enforcement, and mental health and rehabilitation centers, all of which will be instrumental in achieving Operation360’s overarching mission.

Tyson Hodges began his law enforcement journey more than 35 years ago when he first joined the San Angelo, Texas Police Department. He later transitioned to a narcotics detective with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and an Agent with the United States Border Patrol.  Tyson’s commitment to law enforcement led him to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in May 1998, where he assumed the role of Special Agent based in the Des Moines, Iowa Resident Office.

After a distinguished tenure as a Special Agent, Tyson advanced his career, taking supervisory assignments in Salem, Oregon, and later DEA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.  During his time at DEA Headquarters, he played a pivotal role in the Office of Compliance, overseeing all external reviews, including Congressional inquiries and audits conducted by the Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office. Tyson’s career continued to advance, and he later assumed the role of Executive Assistant (Chief of Staff), where he was tasked with the critical responsibility of identifying, evaluating, and mitigating organizational risks. Tyson was also selected to serve on DEA’s Special Agent Hiring and Drug Panels and was appointed as the Director of Field Engagement and Liaison for DEA’s Diversity Committee.  He concluded his tenure with DEA as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Austin District Office (DO).  During his time at the Austin DO, Tyson was instrumental in founding a collaborative multi-agency task force, specially designed to investigate drug overdoses and offering guidance and support to families grappling with the loss of a loved one.

Tyson believes that the cornerstone of a vibrant and productive community lies in safeguarding the health and safety of family and friends.  Throughout his career, Tyson consistently practiced and promoted these values, inspiring others to become leaders characterized by fairness, compassion, attentiveness, and engagement.

Tyson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas. He continued to enhance his professional skills by completing DEA’s Group Supervisor Institute and Senior Supervisory Leadership Training through the University of Virginia and graduating from the Strategic Leadership Program at the University of Notre Dame. Tyson’s professional credentials include completion of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) Academy, and he is a Certified Fraud Examiner through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). Tyson also continues to hold a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance.