Derek is a 29-year member with the Colorado Springs Fire Department, having worked the past 12 years as a shift commander and operations battalion chief. He has worked in the Training Division, Hazardous Materials, and Tactical Medical Programs, and served as the executive for various other specialty programs. From 2017-2023, he was a board member and chairperson of the El Paso – Teller County 911 Authority.
 
His academic career with UCCS dates back to 1998 when he attended paramedic school at the Beth-El College of Nursing. In 2017, he completed his Masters of Public Administration, receiving the Outstanding Student Award for the MPA program. He is a member of the UCCS MPA Student and Alumni Advisory Board.