Derrick Draper: Leadership and Resilience Speaker

Derrick S. Draper is a retired U.S. Army Infantry Lieutenant Colonel and a high school football coach — and he'll tell you the second job draws on the first more than anyone expects. As a leadership and resilience speaker, he brings that same discipline to every audience he addresses.

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A Career Built on Leadership and Resilience

Over a 22-year career he commanded the 3-187 Infantry "Iron Rakkasans," served as the Joint Special Operations Command commander's senior liaison to the Central Intelligence Agency, and supported operations across Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Afghanistan. As Deputy Commander of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment — The Old Guard — he oversaw the rebuild of the Army's historic Caisson Detachment and played a key role in the state funeral for President Jimmy Carter.

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Those assignments sharpened a specific skill: making decisions with incomplete information, under time pressure, when the cost of being wrong is real.

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After retiring, Derrick brought the same leadership philosophy to young athletes. As a coach at West Springfield High School, he guided the football program to its strongest three-year run in more than three decades. He has since served as an operations intern with the United Football League, directed football operations for the American Bowl, and works as strength coach for Impact Dance Project, where he has helped shape the performance of some of the DMV's strongest competitive dance teams.

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Across both arenas — the military and athletics — Derrick is known for developing people into the best version of themselves through genuine investment in their futures. His message resonates because it's lived, not theorized. Whether guiding soldiers through combat deployments or shaping young athletes into confident leaders, he brings clarity, humility, and a mission-first mindset to every audience.

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Speaking Topics:

• Leadership in High-Stakes Environments

• Coaching and Mentorship That Transforms Teams

• Resilience and Mental Toughness

• Executing Under Pressure and in Uncertain Conditions

• Building Culture Through Accountability and Purpose

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Background:​

• Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), U.S. Army Infantry — 22 years, multiple combat deployments

• Deputy Commander, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment "The Old Guard"

• Commander, 3-187 Infantry "Iron Rakkasans"

• JSOC commander's senior liaison to the Central Intelligence Agency

• M.A., Administration with a focus on leadership, Central Michigan University

• B.A., Psychology, Norwich University

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Derrick is now the owner operator of Special Strong Springfield.  An adaptive fitness franchise that invests in the adaptive athletes supporting their journey to live more independent and abundant lives.