Derek Woodley is originally from Baytown, TX, but came to Virginia for college and never really left. He earned a B.S. in Finance and an M.S. in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia, and now lives in Vienna with his wife, Hannah, and their two sons, Rory and Graeme. Derek and Hannah have been part of the NCC/NoVA family since 2009 and now serve together as elders. Derek has played on the worship team since 2018.

Professionally, he works in the defense and intelligence technology world, leading operations for a company that builds software for national security missions — work that has taught him a great deal about building teams, stewarding resources well, and keeping people at the center of complicated systems.

On guitar, he is a rhythm player by conviction as much as by assignment: keep time, serve the song, and resist the urge to play something clever — which is not a bad description of eldership either. Off the platform, Derek is happiest with a good meal in progress for family and friends, a science fiction novel in hand, or both.