Derek Keaton was born and raised in Camden, Arkansas, and is an ex-NFL player who played for the Chicago Bears. He is currently employed at Lockheed Martin Fort Worth as a Program Manager for the F-35 Sustainment Program. He has spent nearly six years with Lockheed Martin and had the opportunity to receive multiple recognitions and awards. His educational background is diverse as he holds an associate degree from the University of Coffeyville, Kansas in Mechanical Engineering, a bachelor's degree from Georgia Southern University in Business, and a Master's degree from Temple University in Strategic Financial Management. Keaton graduated with a 3.8 GPA in both the bachelor's and master's programs and currently holds the treasurer position for the National Society of Black Engineers Fort Worth Chapter.