Derek Parks, BS is an Associate Consultant with Threat Suppression Incorporated. Derek started working at Threat Suppression is 2020. Derek specializes in fire-as-a-weapon, rescue task force (RTF), and civil unrest training. Derek has been a member of the Charlotte Fire Department since 2005. Derek has served as a fire captain with the Charlotte Fire Department since 2011. He served as a captain on Engine 1 in downtown Charlotte for almost a decade. Downtown Charlotte has more than 50 high-rise buildings, a National Football League stadium, a National Basketball Association arena, a AAA baseball stadium, three major hospitals, and four college/university campuses. In 2022, Derek was promoted to battalion fire chief, where he is currently assigned to "A" Shift.

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Derek is the training coordinator for the Tactical Fire Company (TFC) program for the Charlotte Fire Department. The TFC program utilizes eight fire companies assigned to four stations to provide specialized response with local law enforcement agencies. Derek is responsible for the training of all new members of the TFC program. Derek also oversees quarterly training provided to the companies assigned to the TFC program and the additional 150 extra TFC trained fire department personnel. Derek assisted in the development and implementation of the Rescue Task Force (RTF) training provided to Charlotte Fire Department personnel and Charlotte area law enforcement.

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Derek served as a fire department front-line civil unrest unit response supervisor during the seven-day, 2016 Charlotte riots. Derek also served as a fire department front-line civil unrest unit response supervisor for multiple civil unrest deployments throughout North Carolina. Derek also served as a fire department front-line civil unrest unit response supervisor during the five-day, 2020 George Floyd protests in Charlotte. Derek also served a civil unrest response supervisor assigned to the elite CEU Quick Reaction Force during the 2020 Republican National Convention.

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Derek has served as a member of the Charlotte Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue Team (NC-TF3) since 2007. As a member of Task Force 3, Derek has deployed to several large incidents with NC-TF3, including a 17-day deployment to Hurricane Florence. During that deployment, Derek served as the Executive Office to the Taskforce Leader. Derek has an associate degree in fire science from Gaston College and a bachelor's of science in fire administration from Columbian Southern University. Derek can be reached at dparks@threatsuppression.com.