IWP’s Director of Career Services is a nationally recognized career expert whose specialization is assisting job seekers in the fields of intelligence, national security, homeland security, law enforcement, international affairs, government, and international business. He, like many IWP faculty members, is a scholar-practitioner: he not only advises students and alumni on various careers, but he has also worked in related fields. He knows firsthand how to help you succeed.

Derrick T. Dortch is President of The Diversa Group, a global management and strategic consulting firm providing advice, services, and solutions to organizations and individuals to assist them achieve success. The Diversa Group provides a wide range of services ranging from career, leadership, and organizational development to security and risk consulting. In 2005, Mr. Dortch assumed the leadership of The Diversa Group after serving as Vice President. Since then, he has taken the lead in expanding services and successfully growing the company.

In addition to his work at The Diversa Group, Mr. Dortch is a columnist for The Washington Post. His column focuses on the Federal Government and helping both federal workers and federal job seekers achieve success in their careers. Each week Mr. Dortch hosts a radio show on Federal News Radio 1500 AM called “Fed Access with Derrick T. Dortch.” Every Friday at 12:00 noon, he talks to guests about everything from careers to contracts to counterterrorism and anything else related to the federal sector.

Before assuming the leadership of The Diversa Group, Mr. Dortch worked as Assistant Director for Georgetown University’s Career Education Center. At Georgetown, he served as a career counselor, special programs manager, employment advisor, and was in charge of the Center’s educational technology & marketing. Mr. Dortch previously held the position of Manager of Internships, Government & Non-Profit Opportunities, where he worked to find Georgetown students jobs in the federal government, non-profit, and public service sectors by building relationships with government agencies and non-profit employers and advising students on how to succeed. He served as the first Director of the Georgetown Public Interest Program (GPIP) before being promoted to Assistant Director.

Mr. Dortch served in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in various capacities from combat operations in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm to training, operational planning, career counseling, and administration. His military personal and unit service awards include the: Combat Action Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, and Meritorious Unit Commendation. Mr. Dortch continues to show his dedication the Marine Corps by serving on the Board of Trustees of the Marine Corps University Foundation (MCUF).

He continues his service to his country by serving as a Captain (O-3) in the Maryland Military Department, Maryland Defense Force.  There he has worked in training, public affairs and commanded a unit focused on providing support to the Maryland National Guard and Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). He also serves as a Flotilla Staff Officer (FSO) with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Mr. Dortch is deeply committed to service and responding in times of need and crisis. As a member of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team in the Washington, D.C. area, Mr. Dortch was one of the first Red Cross Disaster workers on the scene providing support to the rescue and recovery efforts at the Pentagon during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. He continues to answer the call during various emergencies.

He has years of experience working in the business, education, non-profit, and government sectors. Before taking his posts at Georgetown University, Mr. Dortch worked with the City of Detroit Youth Department as a program coordinator for the Resident Youth Council, an academic, career and leadership development program for high school students. He also worked as a counselor with the YMCA and as Youth Minister at Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church. While pursuing his degrees at Tuskegee University Mr. Dortch worked as Assistant to the Vice President, Judicial Officer, Counselor, Director of Orientation Programs, and Editor-In-Chief of the Campus Digest (Tuskegee University’s Student Newspaper).

Mr. Dortch holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Masters of Education in Counseling and Student Development from Tuskegee University. He has also taken graduate level and professional development courses in technology and national security at Georgetown University.