Derrick is a US Army Veteran serving from 1983-1989 with the 24th Infantry Division Ft. Stewart Ga. He was a motor vehicle operator driving everything from an 18-wheel reefer (refrigerated) truck down to a military Hum-V. Derrick was a platoon leader who led several teams to the National Training Center in San Bernadino Ca for 30, 60, and 90 tours training against foreign adversaries. finishing his military career as a driver for his commanding officer. Derrick has a Credit/Collections background working as a collector for ATT from 2000-2003 and studied Business/Corporate communications at Oakland Community College.
Derrick joined SAFE in July 2004 as Event Security working on Beacon Street (BOH), joined 24/7 staff in November 2004 as a part-time Red4, and moved to full-time Red 4 in June 2005. He is one of the longest-tenured 24/7. As a Red 4, Derrick supervised all shifts…Afternoons, and midnights worked at Ford Field for 16 ½ years.
Derrick was promoted to Security Manager for the Detroit Lions Training Facility in September 2020, supervising a staff of 8-10 officers, running day-to-day security operations, and assisting Lions Security Director to ensure players, staff, coaches, and executives’ daily needs were met.
Derrick was promoted to Security Coordinator at Huntington Place Convention Center (formerly Cobo Hall) in February 2022.
Derrick is a member of the SAFE Super Bowl travel team…SBXL Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan, working as Executive Protection for the 39 previous Super Bowl MVPs, SBLIV Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens Florida, and SBLV Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Florida where he worked agencies as a Command Center dispatcher/operator, assisting various law enforcement agencies as well as Cybercrime units, before, during, and after the Super Bowl.
Derrick is also a member of the Ford Field Executive Protection Unit where he was Executive protection for Hall of Famer Barry Sanders for 2 seasons. Also serving as EPU for visiting/home-ownership, local dignitaries, current/former players, Detroit Lions Executives, and many entertainers.
In 2015 Derrick had certified training in Executive Protection with the Detroit Police Department, in 2016 attended Performance level law enforcement “Active Shooter” emergency response training, also in 2016 attended the Academy of Counter-Terrorist education course, in 2017 attended the Improvised Explosive Device construction course and biological weapons classification courses.
Derrick has a 25-year-old daughter and is also a lifelong DJ with a passion for music!
