Derek Chambers
CAPT, USPHS (Retired)
Derek Chambers, P.E., MPH, was a commissioned officer in the United States Public Health Service (from 1991 - 2018, now retired), and lives on the island of Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (a U.S. Territory). CAPT Chambers was detailed from the United States Environmental Protection Agency to the CNMI Division of Environmental Quality as a technical adviser for environmental programs.
Experience
2022 - present Training Developer, National Park Service, Frederick, MD (remote)
Education
Deployments
In addition to his normal duties, CAPT Chambers occasionally was deployed to other regions/countries to provide technical assistance or emergency response.
CAPT, USPHS (Retired)
Derek Chambers, P.E., MPH, was a commissioned officer in the United States Public Health Service (from 1991 - 2018, now retired), and lives on the island of Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (a U.S. Territory). CAPT Chambers was detailed from the United States Environmental Protection Agency to the CNMI Division of Environmental Quality as a technical adviser for environmental programs.
Experience
2022 - present Training Developer, National Park Service, Frederick, MD (remote)
- Develop and present water/wastewater training for NPS facility maintenance personnel nationwide, including: Feb 2023 Yosemite, CA; Nov 2023 Cape Hataras, NC; Apr 2024 Grand Canyon, AZ; Nov 2024 Gateway National Rec Area, Sandy Hook, NJ, and online.
- (Feb 2025 - present) providing water operator certification training to CNMI public water systems, funded by CNMI Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality.
- (Sept 2021- Sept 2023) technical support to BECQ in construction permit reviews, drinking water regulations and other environmental programs
- (Aug 2021 – Dec 2022) providing water operator certification training to Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Water/Wastewater Operators
- Wrote and published the CNMI DEQ Safe Drinking Water Regulations (2005, revised 2008 & 2016)
- Initiated the sanitary survey program
- Initiated the water and waste water operator certification programs
- Conducted numerous trainings for water and waste water operators
- Founded the Mariana Islands Water Operator Association
- Conducted studies on groundwater quality
- Provided engineering technical assistance and consultation to 32 Alaska Native Villages in the Interior Region of Alaska in regards to their sanitation facilities
- Supervised one engineer and three water treatment plant "circuit riders" (known in Alaska as Remote Maintenance Workers).
- Developed a 32-hour training course on the "Operational Management" of rural water utilities for the State of Alaska Rural Utility Business Adviser Program.
- Designed and built water/wastewater facilities for tribes on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula
- Designed and built water/wastewater facilities for tribes in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
- Village-based water and sanitation projects: ferro-cement tanks, pit latrines, wells with hand pumps.
Education
- Master of Public Health, University of Washington, 2003
- Bachelor of Science Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1988
- Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Washington, no. 32764
- Certified Water Distribution Operator Class 2 in the CNMI, no. 1149
- Certified Water Treatment Plant Operator Class 2 in the CNMI, no. 1149
- Certified Wastewater Collection Operator Class 2 in the CNMI, no. 0145
- Certified Wastewater Treatment Operator Class 2, in the CNMI, no. 0146
Deployments
In addition to his normal duties, CAPT Chambers occasionally was deployed to other regions/countries to provide technical assistance or emergency response.
- August 2017 - Guam - Technical assistance on sanitary surveys (for Guam EPA)
- March 2017 - American Samoa - Technical assistance for AS EPA sanitary survey (w/ US EPA)
- April 2015 - Chuuk, FSM - Typhoon Masak damage assessment (w/ USAID)
- May 2013 - Marshall Islands - Drought response (w/ USAID)
- December 2011 - Republic of Palau - Technical assistance on drinking water and waste water issues (w/ US EPA)
- March 2009 - Guam - Technical Assistance on sanitary surveys (w/ US EPA)
- September 2006 - Chuuk, FSM - Technical assistance on drinking water (W/ US EPA)
- February 2006 - Pakistan - Earthquake response and recovery (w/ USAID)
- September 2005 - Marshall Islands - Technical assistance on drinking water (w/ US EPA)
- February 2005 - Sri Lanka - Tsunami response and recovery (w/ USAID)
- August 2003 - Eritrea/Ethiopia - Drought response (w/ USAID)
last updated 12/24/2024