Derren Burrell

Founder and Managing Partner

2018 - Current

Veteran Ventures Capital fuses resources, mentoring and years of fiscal & operational experience to an investment & consulting firm that strategically assists businesses with veterans in leadership.

Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program Scholar

2021

Principal & Chief Financial Officer

2015

Founded and operated by U.S. military veterans, True Victory is a sportswear & streetwear brand dedicated to building champions, on and off the field.  Our purpose is to transform lives and elevate humanity through the power of sports, story telling, and serving others.

Chief Operating Officer

2015 - 2019

Corporate executive who oversees ongoing business operations within the company. Responsibilities include: - Oversees day-to-day operations and keeps the CEO and President apprised of significant events - Advises the President, CEO and other key members of senior management on financial planning, budgeting, cash flow, investment priorities, and policy matters - Creates operations strategy and policies - Communicates strategy and policy to employees - Fosters employee alignment with corporate goals

Resource Director

2012 - 2015

Nominative/selectively manned Joint Service Agency. Works directly with senior White House (WH) staff, Congressional, comptroller, United States Secret Service, Dept of State, and Defense Information Systems Agency staff in all aspects of financial and contract management in support of President, Vice President, First Lady, & senior WH staff, a budget consisting of $350 million in both Operations/Maintenance and acquisition funding. Duties include: - CFO to the White House Communications Agency Commander on all matters financial. Lead in all aspects of capital budgeting and the efficient/effective use of over $350 million in taxpayer dollars in direct support of the President. - Leads a staff of 35 Army, Air Force, contractor, and civilian personnel responsible for pay activities for this selectively-manned, Joint Agency consisting of over 1,000 people. - Develops models, conducts studies, analysis, and assessments, and evaluates plans, programs, and strategies for the WHCA Commander to make timely and informed decisions on all budgetary, financial, cost and economic issues - While at this job, I was promoted to the rank of full Colonel

Resource Director, NATO Air Training Command - Afghanistan

2011 - 2012

Director of Resources to the Deputy Commander for Air within the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan. - Chief Financial Officer who led 4-person office responsible for planning, programming and executing $12 billion budget to build Afghan air power. - Managed complex 2-year Afghan Security Forces Fund appropriation. - Developed strategy for financial management of US government, NATO resources, and coalition partner donations. - Assisted in the acquisition strategy to support a growing fleet of 146 Afghan aircraft. Formulated all operational data to compile the Program Objective Memorandum (POM) to submit to the Office of the Secretary of Defense Comptroller. - Partnered with senior officials from NATO, US Central Command, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, International Affairs, and service acquisition agencies

Deputy Director of Resources, United States Forces- Iraq (USF-I)

2011 - 2011

Formulated, justified, and executed the United States Forces - Iraq $8 billion operating budget. - Coordinated all staff actions and requirements with joint/coalition commands within the Iraq Joint Operations Area. - Managed the daily activities of the controller staff consisting of officers and enlisted sailors, soldiers, airmen, and marines from all service components. - Liaison with joint/combined external organizations to oversees numerous funding pools, including: Iraqi funds, Army, Overseas Contingency Funds, Coalition support, and classified funding. - Ensured proper and legal use of government funds in a wartime environment utilizing strict financial controls. - Provided guidance and liaison to numerous military and intergovernmental organizations, including US Army Corps of Engineers, US Embassy, and Department of State. - Mentored the Iraqi Army controller on proper resource management. - Coordinates input for reports, reviews, and audits with the GAO, US Army Audit Agency, Department of Defense Inspector General, US Congress, and the Office of Management and Budget.

Headquarters Air Combat Command Financial Management Directorate

2010 - 2011

Administered ACC's $8.6 billion Operations and Maintenance budget to operate/maintain/sustain command's entire aircraft inventory of 34 weapon systems spread across 15 major bases and 63 tenant units. Tracked, reported, and interpreted congressional authorizations and appropriations impacts for senior leadership. Coordinated with senior leaders at Pentagon and directorates on all funding issues; supervised staff of 11 budget analysts.

Comptroller Commander/CFO

2007 - 2010

CFO for a 9,600-person operating base in Aviano AB, Italy in Europe. Commanded/directed/led financial squadron comprised of 50 military and civilians at "tip of the spear" fighter base. Principal financial advisor to the wing commander and CFO for all commanders to include 19 geographically separated units. Managed/provided advice/analysis on $185 million budget/portfolio for the F-16 fighter wing. Coordinated with Defense Finance and Accounting Service on pay services for 8,000+ personnel with annual payments totaling over $21M. Provided decision support and oversight for $1.3M in nonappropriated fund assets for the base morale, welfare, and recreation organization. Base focal point for all audits, bank liaison officer, and liaison with senior Air Force leaders to orchestrate/defend the wing's budget. Also dual-hatted as the Wing Staff Agency Commander; handles supervision, long-range planning, and oversight 175 people with diverse skill sets. - While at this job, I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel

Intermediate Development Student/Cost Analysis

2005 - 2007

Received Masters of Science in Cost Analysis. Skill set gained includes statistics, quantitative decision-making, economics, cost management and modeling, finance, regression, time series forecasting, and simulation. Simultaneously obtained Intermediate Development Education credit towards Professional Military Education.

Executive Officer, Air Force Budget

2004 - 2005

Reported directly to the Director of Budget Operations and Personnel in the administration of over $50 billion annually in operations and Military Personnel Appropriations. Directed all ongoing activities related to the development, implementation, maintenance of, and adherence to front office scheduling and operations for a 1-star general, two senior civilian leaders in Air Force financial management. Interpreted director decisions and articulated them to AF senior staff. Provided policy to the directorate. Reviewed all incoming and outgoing staff correspondence for propriety, relevance, and accuracy. Interacted daily with senior civilian and military officials across the Air Force, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Congressional staffs. - While at this job, I was promoted to the rank of Major

CFO, Air Force Flying Operations

2003 - 2004

Responsible for the portfolio management of the $12 billion flying operations account, the largest operational budget account in the Air Force. Built/justified budgetary requirements to senior Air Force leaders and congress. Responded to congressional inquiries, audits, and policy issues in all aspects of flying hour funding.

Finance Officer

2001 - 2003

Provided commander guidance and technical assistance in the administration & use of appropriated funds for the base and tenant units exceeding $1 billion. Managed/administered military pay and travel pay customer service to base populace of over 10,000 cross-cutting all service components. Tracked obligations and expenditures of appropriated dollars, ensured compliance with statutory and regulatory guidance.

Budget Officer

1997 - 2000

Led an office of 7 enlisted and 3 civilian technicians to develop and managed a $300 million operating budget.