Derek M. Fisher
El Paso
Summary
Civil Engineering and Operations Leader with 19 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, specializing in complex infrastructure, construction, and mission-critical operations valued at $1M–$50M+. Proven track record in directing multidisciplinary teams of over 50 personnel, managing high-risk projects in fast-paced environments, and consistently delivering results on time and within budget. Expertise includes project execution, resource optimization, regulatory compliance, and operational risk management, with significant experience in vertical and horizontal construction, heavy civil operations, quality assurance, safety compliance, and stakeholder coordination across government and contractor settings. Recognized for enhancing workflow efficiency by 15%–25%, reducing operational risk, and maintaining audit-ready documentation in highly regulated environments. Adept at leveraging military leadership experience to achieve measurable business outcomes in civil engineering, construction management, and operations leadership roles.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Construction Administrator
CMD Endeavors, Inc.
01.2025 - Current
- Coordinated and tracked 75+ RFIs, 320+ submittals, and 40+ change orders annually, ensuring 100% contract documentation compliance and reducing approval cycle times by 15%.
- Maintained and reconciled detailed Excel cost tracking reports for projects valued between $2M–$8M, monitoring labor hours, material expenditures, and budget variances within ±3% of forecasted costs.
- Supported project managers with schedule updates in Microsoft Project for 5+ concurrent projects, increasing milestone visibility and improving on-time task completion rates by 18%.
- Reviewed and cross-referenced 200+ construction drawings and specification packages, identifying discrepancies early and reducing field rework incidents by 10–12%.
- Processed and validated $250K–$500K in monthly vendor invoices, verifying quantities against field progress to ensure accurate pay applications and prevent overbilling.
- Coordinated procurement and logistics for 30+ material deliveries per month, aligning subcontractor schedules and reducing workflow delays by 20%.
- Managed OSHA compliance documentation and safety logs for job sites averaging 40+ personnel, maintaining audit-ready records and supporting a 0 recordable incident rate during tenure.
- Served as liaison between field crews, subcontractors, and project leadership, resolving 10–15 field discrepancies per week and improving communication turnaround time by 25%.
Observer Controller Trainer
United States Army
08.2022 - Current
- Facilitated mission-based training for 1,680+ soldiers, simulating combat scenarios to assess operational readiness and leadership effectiveness.
- Delivered 15+ detailed After-Action Reviews (AARs) to inform strategic decision-making.
- Created advanced Excel tracking systems with formulas and pivot tables for budget and performance monitoring for construction missions.
- Coordinated logistics and communications via MS Teams to streamline training operations.
Construction Management Supervisor
United States Army
08.2022 - Current
- Led 10 engineering projects from design to completion: improved deadline adherence by 15% using Microsoft Project.
- Managed vertical/horizontal construction crews (up to 50 personnel) including site prep, utilities, and structural builds.
- Enforced OSHA compliance and conducted equipment safety checks in austere environments.
- Interpreted construction blueprints to coordinate project flow and resource allocation.
Loader Operator
CMD Endeavors, Inc.
09.2025 - 01.2026
- Operated front-end loaders and heavy equipment in support of $1M–$10M site development projects, completing site prep, grading, trenching, and material transport for 10+ acres of commercial and infrastructure work annually.
- Executed precision earthmoving tasks with grade tolerances within ±0.1 ft, maintaining strict adherence to safety protocols and contributing to a zero-equipment-incident record.
- Conducted daily pre- and post-operation inspections on heavy machinery valued at $250K+ per unit, reducing mechanical downtime by 15% through early issue identification.
- Collaborated with site supervisors and foremen to sequence work across 3–5 concurrent crews, improving task flow efficiency and reducing idle equipment time by 20%.
- Assisted in underground utility exposure and backfill operations for 5,000+ linear feet of trenching, ensuring compaction standards and grade accuracy met municipal and project specifications.
- Consistently met or exceeded production targets of 300–500 cubic yards of material movement per shift, while minimizing material waste and rework by 10%.
- Supported vertical and horizontal construction operations across multiple project phases, contributing to on-time completion of 95%+ scheduled milestones.
Battalion Operations Sergeant
United States Army
07.2019 - 07.2022
- Managed day-to-day operations, logistics, and mission planning for a battalion of 500+ personnel.
- Aligned training plans with strategic goals, coordinating across logistics, safety, and command elements.
- Presented reports on mission execution, resource use, and readiness metrics to senior leaders.
- Conducted internal audits, enforced DoD compliance, and developed standardized SOPs across departments.
- Tracked certifications/training for 500+ personnel, ensuring policy adherence.
- Served as QA advisor on inspections, risk assessments, and federal regulation alignment.
Drill Sergeant Instructor
U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy
01.2018 - 07.2019
- Delivered and evaluated advanced instructor courses; coached 100+ candidates in public speaking and leadership.
- Directly impacted the transformation of approximately 500 Noncommissioned Officers into Drill Sergeants.
- Ensured TRADOC curriculum alignment and developed improvements to instructor qualification programs.
- Charged with the duties and responsibilities as a Master Driver and Transportation Coordinator for the company’s equipment, ensuring that the fleet of vehicles was always mission ready.
Senior Drill Sergeant
United States Army
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Supervised and mentored a team of drill sergeants and oversaw training for hundreds of new candidates per cycle.
- Streamlined SOPs and improved training delivery and performance review processes.
Drill Sergeant
United States Army
12.2015 - 01.2017
- Trained over 2100+ recruits in discipline, physical readiness, and soldier tasks.
- Conducted structured instruction aligned with Army core values and safety protocols.
Bridging Operations Section Leader
United States Army
05.2014 - 12.2015
- Directed IRB, DSB, and REB bridging operations to support maneuver units in combat zones.
- Maintained $10M+ in equipment with 100% accountability.
- Led multinational exercises and maintained 95% training qualification rates.
Bridging Operations Section Leader
United States Army
09.2011 - 05.2014
- Led 100+ route clearance missions involving IED/UXO detection.
- Maintained and deployed clearance tools/equipment valued at $6M.
- Collaborated with EOD and intelligence for safe mission routing and threat reduction.
Education
Master in Business Administration -
American Public University System
Charleston, WV08-2026
Bachelor of Science - Sports Management
American Public University System
Charleston, WV05-2025
Skills
- Project & Construction Management
- Civil Engineering & Blueprint Interpretation
- Operations Planning & Resource Management
- Regulatory Compliance & Auditing
- Risk Assessment & Mitigation
- Training Program Development & Instruction
- Personnel Supervision & Team Development
- Microsoft Project, Excel, Teams, SharePoint
- Safety, Quality Control & OSHA Standards
- Agile/Lean Process Integration
- Leadership & Team Building – Proven ability to lead diverse teams under pressure and mentor junior personnel
- Strategic Planning – Skilled in aligning operational goals with long-term organizational objectives
- Problem Solving – Experienced at resolving complex logistical, operational, and personnel challenges
- Decision-Making – Confident in making critical decisions in fast-paced, high-stakes environments
- Communication – Strong written and verbal communication, including briefings, reports, evaluations, and public speaking
- Adaptability – Thrives in dynamic environments; quick to pivot in response to changing conditions or requirements
- Time Management – Able to prioritize and manage multiple concurrent tasks and deadlines efficiently
- Attention to Detail – Ensures accuracy and thoroughness in compliance, documentation, and operational execution
- Conflict Resolution – Experienced in managing interpersonal and organizational conflicts with professionalism
- Instruction & Mentorship – Passionate about teaching, coaching, and developing others to reach their potential
- Collaboration – Works well across departments, units, and joint/multinational teams
- Resilience & Work Ethic – Maintains high performance standards through stress, ambiguity, and extended operations
- Software: Microsoft Project, Excel, Access, Outlook, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, Zoom, Slack, Salesforce CRM
- Tools: SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop
- Methodologies: Familiar with Agile and Waterfall Project Management systems
- Military Systems: Digital Training Management System (DTMS), GCSS-Army, Army Training Network (ATN)
- Construction scheduling
- Site coordination
- Microsoft office
- Preconstruction planning
- Labor management
- Deadline management
- Material procurement
- File management
- Project management
- Subcontractor management
- Dispute resolution
Accomplishments
- Managed a construction budget of more than $[Amount].
- Managed construction of a [Number]-square foot building.
- Led over [Number] projects that were all completed within budget and on schedule.
- Documented and resolved [Issue] which led to [Results].
- Collaborated with team of [Number] in the development of [Project name].
- Achieved [Result] by completing [Task] with accuracy and efficiency.
Certification
- Common Faculty Development Instructor Course Certification, 2018-02-01
- Project Management Professional (PMP) Prep Course, 2023-01-01
- Combat Lifesaver Certification, 2025-04-01
- Basic Risk Management Certification, 2022-08-01
- Digital Training Management System Certification, 2020-05-01
- Basic Combative Course, 2018-03-01
- Master Resiliency Trainer Course Certification, 2016-03-01
- Command Post of the Future Battle Staff Operators Course, 2015-04-01
- Air Assault Course Certification, 2011-02-01
- Army Basic Instructor Course, 2010-10-01
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Limited Working
Timeline
Loader Operator
CMD Endeavors, Inc.
09.2025 - 01.2026
Construction Administrator
CMD Endeavors, Inc.
01.2025 - Current
Observer Controller Trainer
United States Army
08.2022 - Current
Construction Management Supervisor
United States Army
08.2022 - Current
Battalion Operations Sergeant
United States Army
07.2019 - 07.2022
Drill Sergeant Instructor
U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy
01.2018 - 07.2019
Senior Drill Sergeant
United States Army
01.2017 - 01.2018
Drill Sergeant
United States Army
12.2015 - 01.2017
Bridging Operations Section Leader
United States Army
05.2014 - 12.2015
Bridging Operations Section Leader
United States Army
09.2011 - 05.2014
Bachelor of Science - Sports Management
American Public University System
Master in Business Administration -
American Public University System