Terry (TJ) Weelborg
Mesa,Arizona
Summary
Strategic data center operations executive with 17 years of progressive leadership experience spanning the full lifecycle of mission-critical infrastructure—from mechanical construction and commissioning to engineering leadership, enterprise operations, and global hyperscale data center governance. Currently responsible for three hyperscale data center campuses across the United States and China totaling approximately 180 MW of critical IT capacity. Leads an organization of approximately 220 personnel including full time employees, managed service personnel, contractors, technical subject matter experts, supervisors, and managers, delivering high-reliability operations, organizational development, and exceptional customer outcomes. Trusted cross-functional leader partnering with Global Real Estate & Development (RE&D), Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), Global Security, Engineering, Construction, Supply Chain, and executive leadership to drive operational readiness, infrastructure strategy, and long-term capacity planning. Serves as organizational Mechanical Directly Responsible Individual (DRI), influencing enterprise mechanical engineering standards and ensuring operational requirements are embedded across design, construction, commissioning, and lifecycle operations.
Collaborative operations executive who believes sustainable operational excellence is achieved through empowered people, disciplined execution, engineering rigor, and strong cross-functional partnerships. Recognized for developing future leaders, driving organizational alignment, and delivering resilient mission-critical operations at global scale.
130M+ total financial responsibility, including 30M+ operating budget and $100M+ capital portfolio 72MW+ live data center expansion delivery with zero customer-impacting events Operational leadership of 3 hyperscale data centers (US & China) Accountability for 180MW of critical IT capacity Leadership of 220-person global organization (employees, contractors, managed services) Led critical infrastructure modernization while maintaining live production environments Enterprise Mechanical DRI influencing global data center design standards Successful operational continuity through COVID-19 and workforce constraints
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Data Center Site Manager
Apple
01.2022 - Current
- Lead global operations for three hyperscale data center campuses across the United States and China supporting approximately 180 MW of critical IT capacity.
- Direct an organization of approximately 220 employees, managed service personnel, contractors, technical experts, supervisors, and managers, ensuring safe, reliable, and high-performing mission-critical operations.
- Executive Operations Leadership
- Lead end-to-end operations across geographically distributed hyperscale data center campuses supporting global infrastructure services Establish operational governance, performance standards, and organizational strategy across multiple sites Develop leaders through coaching, succession planning, mentoring, and structured talent development programs Drive operational readiness for major capacity expansions, infrastructure upgrades, and capital deployment initiatives Lead crisis management, incident response, and business continuity planning across international operations Manage strategic vendor and managed service partnerships ensuring accountability and performance Maintain executive alignment with RE&D, EHS, Global Security, Engineering, Construction, and Supply Chain organizations Oversee combined operating and capital budgets exceeding $130M annually
- Enterprise Engineering Leadership (Mechanical DRI)
- Serve as organization operational Mechanical Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) for global data center operations Lead updates to mechanical specifications including welding standards, chemical treatment programs, flushing procedures, and system requirements Partner with design, construction, commissioning, and operations teams to ensure lifecycle reliability and concurrent maintainability Provide operational input during design reviews to reduce long-term risk and improve infrastructure performance Ensure seamless transition of facilities from construction into stable, high-reliability operations
Chief Engineer
Apple
01.2016 - 01.2022
- Led critical facilities engineering operations supporting Apple’s mission-critical infrastructure.
- Directed critical facilities operations, maintenance strategy, and engineering performance Led incident management, troubleshooting, and reliability engineering initiatives Supported commissioning, operational readiness, and infrastructure lifecycle management Developed and implemented preventive maintenance strategies and operational standards Led engineering teams focused on reliability, uptime, and continuous improvement Recognized for technical leadership and operational excellence, resulting in promotion into global site leadership
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Learned and adapted quickly to new technology and software applications.
- Goal-oriented professional with proven success in applying analytical skills to solve complex problems and overcome challenges. Dedicated to enhancing team performance and driving business success.
Mechanical Startup & Commissioning Specialist
Southland Industries
01.2008 - 01.2016
- Delivered mechanical startup, commissioning, and operational validation for complex facilities including manufacturing plants, hospitals, and data centers.
- Commissioned HVAC, chilled water, hydronic piping, and process mechanical systems; led functional testing, system startup, and performance validation. Performed troubleshooting, optimization, and systems integration support, coordinating closely with owners, engineers, contractors, and commissioning authorities to ensure successful turnover of fully operational mission-critical environments.
Education
Apprenticeship -
UA Local 250 – Southern California Journeyman Pipefitter
06.2014
Skills
- Critical Facilities Operations
- Mechanical Systems (HVAC, Chilled Water, Piping)
- Data Center Infrastructure
- Commissioning
- Building Systems Integration
- Reliability Engineering
- Incident Command
- Operational Risk Management
- Capital Project Execution
- Vendor Oversight
- Safety & Compliance
- High-Availability Operations
- Workforce Development
- Executive Communication
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Global Data Center Operations
- Mission Critical Infrastructure
- Critical Facilities Management
- Engineering Governance
- Mechanical Systems
- Operational Excellence
- Business Continuity
- Crisis Management
- Incident Response
- Capital Planning
- Financial Oversight
- Risk Management
- Organizational Development
- Executive Leadership
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Vendor Management
- Commissioning
- Operational Readiness
- Reliability Engineering
- Continuous Improvement
- Customer Experience
Timeline
Data Center Site Manager
Apple
01.2022 - Current
Chief Engineer
Apple
01.2016 - 01.2022
Mechanical Startup & Commissioning Specialist
Southland Industries
01.2008 - 01.2016
Apprenticeship -
UA Local 250 – Southern California Journeyman Pipefitter