
About Us
About Us
PSTC Development Team
-
Inspector Gerald W. Hildebrand, Professor, Criminal Justice
Inspector Gerald W. (“GW”) Hildebrand always knew what he wanted in a job: action, variety, and the opportunity to contribute to society through service. His 30-year career in law enforcement proved to be even more exciting and satisfying than he had hoped it would be.
After joining the Texas Department of Public Safety in 1977, he progressed from highway patrol officer to sergeant before being appointed to the Texas Rangers in 1987. He served as a Texas Ranger for 17 years and was placed in charge of the elite governor’s protective detail from 1991 to 1995, serving as head of security for Governor Ann Richards. He retired in 2004 with the rank of Captain/Inspector and still carries his Special Texas Ranger commission.
Inspector Hildebrand is an FBI-certified criminal profiler and a full fellow with the International Criminal Investigative Analysis Fellowship (ICIAF). He was the Texas Ranger profiler for seven years and has investigated, consulted on, and reviewed over 2500 violent crimes throughout his career.
Lifelong learning has been an integral part of his success. After attending Texarkana Community College, Inspector Hildebrand went on to earn a BS in Criminal Justice from Lamar University and an MS in Criminal Justice from Southwest Texas State University. He graduated from the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia in 1992 and received his FBI & ICIAF Criminal Investigative Profiling certification in 2000. He has completed over 60 specialized training courses in advanced topics in law enforcement and criminal investigation.
Inspector Hildebrand began teaching at ACC in 1989 and has been chair of the Criminal Justice Department since 2004. In the classroom, he shares his own experiences to illustrate academic points and help students understand the real-life applications of policing theory.
-
Frederick "Dale" Toler, Department Chair, Professor, Criminal Justice
Dale Toler was an engineering major in college until circumstances in his life opened a door into law enforcement. He considered this a temporary move at the time, but looking back at his 25 years with the Austin Police department, he believes no other job could have been more progressive, rewarding or challenging.
Dale spent nine years as SWAT Team Leader and four years as a Bomb Technician, continually expanding his knowledge to develop new tactics to advance the profession. His background provides students with insight into the more advanced technical aspects of law enforcement.
Dale sees the collaboration of ideas and achievements as central to both law enforcement and teaching. He shares his natural inclination to improve and learn with his students, encouraging them to gain the knowledge and confidence they need to trust themselves and succeed.
Dale holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from St. Edward’s University, and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Texas State University.
Dale’s family has been involved in Texas law enforcement since the 1930’s. His father, Fred Toler, was the second Executive Director of TCLEOSE (now TCOLE) from 1972 – 1994; Dale is proud to have his father’s signature on his Basic Peace Officer Certificate.
PSTC Staff
-
Bridget Lott, Adjunct Professor
Bridget has dedicated her life to serving others as a law enforcement professional, college educator, and community volunteer. Not wanting to be tied down to an office job, she was drawn to law enforcement by the excitement of the field and the ability to make a real difference in people’s lives.
In her 30 years as a member of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Bridget rode motorcycles, rappelled from a helicopter, responded to civil disturbances and riots, and assisted with the protection of the US President. She worked in offices throughout the state in field and administrative assignments, earning promotions through all ranks from officer to Chief. In addition to holding a master’s degree in Justice Studies, Bridget is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the California Leadership Institute.
Helping others succeed is her passion. She has been instructing law enforcement personnel for more than 20 years, teaching various courses to all ranks and classifications and helping hundreds of CHP personnel succeed on their promotional exams. In December 2013, Bridget retired from CHP in order to focus her attention on teaching. She has been teaching in ACC’s Criminal Justice department since 2014.
Bridget comes from a loving Catholic family with 8 brothers and sisters and awesome parents. She has a partner of 20 years. When not spending free time with family or volunteering with community groups, she enjoys running, hiking, gardening, and reading.
-
Michael Martinez, Adjunct Professor
Mike is a retired Austin Police officer with over 29 years of service. Having worked 16 years on patrol, Mike has the training and real-world experience to help students gain the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a career in law enforcement. His 13 years on the Austin Police Department SWAT team gave him extensive knowledge of law enforcement weapon systems, tactics, threat assessment, and raid planning.
Mike also has experience as an armorer and firearms instructor and years of international experience with the private sector, training individuals in the nuances of personal protection, dignitary protection, martial arts, tactical driving, and firearms.
Mike holds certificates in firearms instruction, chemical munitions systems, electronic devices, distraction devices, combat medic, rappel master, and hostage rescue. Mike has assisted in the development and instruction of basic SWAT schools, active shooter training, and patrol rifle school and has a practical understanding of the critical elements needed for small teams to work together successfully.
As an adjunct faculty member for the past 14 years with the Criminal Justice department, Mike is dedicated to the success of our students. Besides teaching classes, Mike is a member of the ACC Public Safety Training Center management development team responsible for developing procedures and safety protocols for the firing range, force on force warehouse, EVOC and defensive tactics.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Liberal Studies in Criminal Justice from St. Edward’s University and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Texas State University.
-
James “Jim” Molloy, Adjunct Professor
Jim Molloy is a professional public safety instructor who enjoys working with students and public safety professionals to prepare them to better serve their communities. With over 40 years of experience in law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical service, Jim has real world experience, allowing him to connect with the audience while sharing knowledge gained from “working the streets.”
Jim has served as a Firefighter/EMT with the El Paso Fire Department, a Public Safety Lieutenant with the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Department of Public Safety, a Traffic/Accident Investigation Officer and Tactical Team Operator with the Arlington Texas Police Department, and a Sergeant with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
As the Commander of DFW’s Hazardous Incident Response team, he developed training and policy for hazardous materials and rescue operations. As regional training officer for TABC and the lead Sergeant for the Special Response team, he was tasked with developing training, selection standards, and policies for 39 counties in central Texas.
Jim’s certifications and licenses include Master Peace Officer, Instructor Proficiency, Firearms Instructor, and Advanced EMT. He has well over 5000 hours of documented law enforcement training including multiple instructor certifications in emergency vehicle operations, force on force training, and active threat training.
He holds an AAS in Business from Tarrant County College, a BAAS in Emergency Administration and Disaster Planning from the University of North Texas, and an MS in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management from Sam Houston State University.
Administration
-
Dr. Giao Phan, Dean, Public and Social Services
Giao Phan knows from personal experience how a quality education can change the trajectory of a person’s life. When her family arrived in the US after fleeing the Vietnam War, they spoke no English and struggled to make ends meet. Yet her parents instilled in her and her siblings the importance of helping others and the belief that education would provide a better life.
Despite having a difficult time in school due to the language barrier and having to help support her family, she knew in the first grade that she wanted to become a teacher. She started her career straight out of college by volunteering with the Peace Corps, where she served as an English teacher trainer in a remote barrio in the Philippines. The entire experience was eye-opening for her: first time on an airplane, first time seeing waterfalls, snorkeling and caving, and the first time seeing the universal connection between poverty and education.
Giao taught in economically disadvantaged schools in New York City and Texas while earning her master’s degree from Teachers College Columbia University and her doctorate in Educational Policy and Planning from UT Austin. She served as the founding chair and professor of the Education Instruction department at ACC for ten years before becoming dean of Public and Social Services.
As dean, Giao enjoys the challenges of analyzing and solving problems and creatively exploring strategies for program development. She appreciates ACC’s community partners and their commitment to helping our students succeed, and she is even more inspired by our faculty and staff’s commitment to our students. Seeing the impact that ACC has on our students’ lives affirms her faith in the power of people helping each other to create change and improve our communities.
-
Dr. Gretchen Riehl, Associate Vice President, Workforce Education
Dr. Reihl’s work is driven by her personal mission to help people make their lives better. Early in her career as a respiratory therapist, she traveled to Central America to create a new respiratory therapy program at the National University of Costa Rica, establishing the first such program outside of the United States and Canada. After two years there, she was bitten by the teaching bug and has never looked back.
As a former teacher, Dr. Reihl understands what excellence looks like in the classroom and can help coach deans and faculty in that direction. She also has a personal understanding of the challenges our students face juggling family, work and school since she worked full-time herself while earning her master’s and doctorate degrees in health studies.
Prior to coming to ACC in 2017, Dr. Reihl worked in the Dallas Community College District for 26 years: as a faculty member and Associate Dean of Workforce Education at El Centro College and as Executive Dean of the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) division at Eastfield College.
Dr. Reihl loves the strategic element of her job at ACC; looking into the future to see how to make possibilities realities is the most rewarding part of her work.
She has been married for almost 30 years and has three very successful stepchildren. She met her husband Dave singing in a choir, and they are still singing together in that same choir today.