Men To Watch Awards 2026 honors Dr. Derrick E. Felton

There are men who follow a path… and then there are those who quietly become the path others learn to walk. Dr. Derrick E. Felton is one of those men.

An Army Veteran with a steady presence and a depth shaped by both service and lived experience, Dr. Felton has built a career at the intersection of mental health, education, and human resilience. His work is not simply about helping others; it is about guiding people through some of life’s most defining moments with clarity, dignity, and purpose.

During his tenure with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Felton served as Director of the Peninsula Vet Center in Redwood City, California, where he led a team dedicated to supporting combat Veterans and their families. In that role, he became known not just for his leadership, but for his ability to meet Veterans where they are often in moments where words are few, but presence matters most.

His work continued to evolve through his role as a Veteran Liaison Social Worker with VITAS Healthcare, where he supports Veterans and their families through end-of-life transitions. Today, he continues that mission with Alameda Care Hospice, where he works closely with Veterans and their families, ensuring they are supported with both dignity and understanding during life’s most delicate moments. It is within this space that another layer of his calling has become clear his role as a Grief Educator, helping individuals and families navigate loss not as an endpoint, but as a deeply human process that deserves understanding, space, and compassion.

In 2019, Dr. Felton transitioned into academia, bringing his real-world experience into the classroom as an adjunct professor of psychology and social work at De Anza College and California State University, East Bay. His students often describe his teaching as more than instruction; it is preparation for the realities of the field, grounded in both clinical insight and lived truth.

Beyond his professional roles, Dr. Felton continues to serve as a per diem Medical Social Worker and as a commissioned officer in the California State Guard, reinforcing his lifelong commitment to service and community. His leadership extends into national spaces as Vice Chair of a National Board of Directors and through his longstanding involvement with Blacks In Government (BIG), where he is recognized as a Gold Plus Life Member.

In 2024, he was honored as the Father’s Uplift Fellow of the Year, reflecting his work with men striving to become stronger fathers, partners, and leaders in their own lives. He is also a co-founder of Black Men at Penn, an initiative focused on building connections, mentorship, and opportunity within the African American community.

Dr. Felton earned his Doctorate of Social Work from the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, a milestone that reflects not just academic achievement, but a continued commitment to growth, impact, and legacy. What sets Dr. Felton apart is not just what he has done—but how he shows up. Measured. Intentional. Grounded.

He is a man who understands that strength is not always loud, leadership is not always visible, and the most meaningful work often happens in the quiet moments where people decide to keep going. And if you listen closely…you’ll realize he’s just getting started.