A New York native turned southern gentleman! Derek found a niche for public speaking and aviation early on during his years of high school and ultimately realized that he wanted to give back to the community. He comes from a family of those that have served, as his step father was a Huey and Chinook pilot in the U.S. Army, and currently flies a Sikorsky S-76D. His mother was a flight attendant for TWA and currently works as a CSR at FlightSafety Intl. Derek is currently an air traffic controller at Atlanta TRACON in Peachtree City, Georgia. While being an advocate for personal growth, he is also a proponent of social justice and ensuring that people use their voice on any platform they desire. Derek believes facilitating meaningful and constructive dialogue surrounding emotional and complex topics is the first step toward plausible and sensible solutions. It goes without saying, Derek’s passion for aviation is undeniable!