As the senior director of the Security and Emergency Management Department, Derek Trabon leads initiatives to ensure safety and security of the campus environment, working alongside deans and chairs, the University of Texas Police Department, government leaders, and internal and external stakeholders.
For him, meeting new people on campus and building relationships are the reward. With over 25 years of experience working in health care systems, an academic medical center, a nonprofit, and two branches of the armed forces, Derek’s career reflects a lifelong passion for serving others in times of need. His dedication to safety and service exemplifies the One Great Team value, Acting With Integrity, and has guided his career path and leadership style.
What brought you to UT?
What brought me to UT was the opportunity to work at a world-class institution. What keeps me at UT is the people that I have a chance to work with every day.
How does emergency management contribute to the campus experience and operational excellence?
The role and responsibility of emergency management at the University is very unique, and at times the full scope is a difficult picture to paint. We cannot afford to be unprepared for what may come. We want excellence to be our starting point when dealing with the safety and security of the campus.
What motivates you to excel, and what do you take pride in?
A major motivation for me is seeing a problem as an opportunity for improvement or change. Living beyond my job title and embracing roles and responsibilities when those doors open. Helping to solve someone else’s problem — even if it doesn’t belong to our team — and connecting them with the right person, or team, is the customer service that we want.
I’m proud to work with such a smart, talented team of professionals in our team, others at UT, and our community agency partners who continue to support us. We had an exceptionally busy football season and answered the call many times to deliver on our safety and security mission.
This month, we’re focusing on the One Great Team value, Acting With Integrity. What does acting with integrity look like to you?
For me, integrity means doing what is right, especially when no one else is watching. Honest mistakes will happen! On our team, we learn from mistakes and strive to do better in the future. We do this after any major or minor event that we’re involved in during (what we call) an after-action review, or AAR.
Do you have favorite spots on campus or places that inspire you? If so, where and why do these spots matter to you?
There are so many wonderful places on campus, and it’s hard to choose just one. I know this will sound bizarre, but one spot I really enjoy is the view of the campus and city — especially at night — from the top floor of the East Campus Garage. It’s truly a beautiful sight!
