Derek Wesley
Chantilly,VA
Summary
Knowledgeable Operations Manager with background as Chief Engineer. Proven success in managing large-scale engineering projects and leading multidisciplinary teams to achieve operational excellence. Demonstrated expertise in problem-solving and project management.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
DCEO Chief Engineer
Amazon Web Services
01.2021 - Current
- Assign and oversee daily tasks of 12+ talented technicians while ensuring all subordinates are actively working toward established milestones.
- Led a team of engineers to successfully complete complex projects within budget and schedule constraints.
- Established performance benchmarks, conducted analyses, and prepared reports on all aspects of the critical facility operations and maintenance
- Responsible for ensuring that all electrical, mechanical, and fire/life safety equipment within the data center is operating at peak efficiency
- Expert technical resource interacting with onsite Engineering Operations Technicians (EOT) and any third-party vendors
- Reduced equipment downtime through proactive preventive maintenance and timely repairs, ensuring smooth operations.
- Mentored junior engineers, providing guidance on best practices and technical expertise for professional growth.
- Attended weekly department head meetings to share information and voice concerns.
- Managed budgets for engineering projects, making strategic decisions to optimize resources while maintaining quality standards.
DCEO Lead Engineering Operations Technician
Amazon Web Services
01.2018 - 01.2021
- Team subject matter expert (SME), responsible for operating and maintaining all electrical, mechanical, and fire/life safety equipment within the data center, leading a team of more than 4 technicians
- Served as a trusted resource for technical guidance, offering valuable input during critical decision-making processes and fostering a culture of continuous learning within the team.
- Played a crucial role in emergency response planning, minimizing impact on business continuity during unforeseen events.
- Drove innovation while reducing operational costs in the critical facilities
- Optimized operations efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing innovative solutions.
- Conducted thorough root cause analyses for recurring issues, leading to long-term resolutions and minimized system disruptions.
- Demonstrated expertise in equipment operation, contributing to higher quality outputs within tight deadlines.
Reactor Laboratory Divisional Leading Petty Officer
United States Navy
01.2018 - 12.2018
- Supervised more than 5 talented technicians in maintaining reactor plant & steam plant chemistry and radiological controls within parameters during operation and shut down
- Planned and executed multiple large-scale projects affecting reactor & steam plant chemistry and radiological controls
- Monitored crew radiological health and directed the ship’s radiation safety program
- Maintained strict security protocols while handling classified information, mitigating the risk of unauthorized access or disclosure.
- Increased operational readiness by conducting thorough training exercises and performance evaluations for junior personnel.
Engineering Laboratory Technician
United States Navy
01.2013 - 12.2018
- Operated and maintained a Naval Nuclear Propulsion Plant and its associated auxiliaries, specifically propulsion plant machinery, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, reactor plant & steam plant chemistry, radiological controls and radiation safety
- Skillfully operated various laboratory instruments such as spectrometers, microscopes, centrifuges, balances, ovens, furnaces among others resulting in high-quality data outputs.
- Developed strong relationships with vendors and suppliers, ensuring timely delivery of essential materials and equipment.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nuclear Engineering Technology
THOMAS EDISON STATE UNIVERSITY
Trenton, NJ05-2026
No Degree - Accelerated Military Training
NAVAL NUCLEAR POWER TRAINING COMMAND (NNPTC)
Charleston, SC01.2015
Skills
Critical Infrastructure Systems
Project Management
Maintenance processes
Safety Management
Operations Management
Safety meetings
Team Direction
Codes Compliance
Budget Creation
Troubleshooting
Negotiation
Engineering Design
Technologytraining
- Advanced proficiency with database management (Tableau, AWS Quicksight, etc.)
- CMMS (AWS EAM)
- MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
- MS Project
- Google Drive
- SCADA system programming and configuration
Majoraccomplishments
- Commissioned new AWS Data Centers (x3)
- Installed AWS electrical lineups in deferred spaces to increase capacity in live Data Centers
- Replaced and commissioned medium voltage transformer with no customer impact (1st in AWS history)
- Provided leadership and guidance for longest utility outage in AWS history
- Led Reactor Laboratories division out of one of US Navy’s longest ever availabilities to return the ship to service
Timeline
DCEO Chief Engineer
Amazon Web Services
01.2021 - Current
DCEO Lead Engineering Operations Technician
Amazon Web Services
01.2018 - 01.2021
Reactor Laboratory Divisional Leading Petty Officer
United States Navy
01.2018 - 12.2018
Engineering Laboratory Technician
United States Navy
01.2013 - 12.2018
Bachelor of Science - Nuclear Engineering Technology
THOMAS EDISON STATE UNIVERSITY
No Degree - Accelerated Military Training
NAVAL NUCLEAR POWER TRAINING COMMAND (NNPTC)
Similar Profiles
Francisco Javier Chavero, Jr.Francisco Javier Chavero, Jr.
Environmental Program Manager (EPM) at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon Data Services, Inc.Environmental Program Manager (EPM) at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon Data Services, Inc.
Manish KulshreshthaManish Kulshreshtha
Head - Enterprise Support (Mid and Large Enterprise Business) at Amazon Web Services (Amazon Internet Services Pvt. Ltd.)Head - Enterprise Support (Mid and Large Enterprise Business) at Amazon Web Services (Amazon Internet Services Pvt. Ltd.)
Shotaro MiyazakiShotaro Miyazaki
Risk Specialist at AWS, Amazon Web ServicesRisk Specialist at AWS, Amazon Web Services