On the kind of gray Baltimore morning that promises rain, Derrick Dickens walked into work with the same quiet resolve he’s carried for more than two decades. As BGE’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, he is responsible for the systems, teams, and decisions that keep energy flowing safely and reliably to millions. But titles have never been what define him. Derrick thinks in terms of responsibility — to customers waiting for the lights to return, to employees looking for steady leadership, and to a community he believes deserves not only service, but support.
He didn’t begin his career in utilities. Defense systems, telecommunications, and entirely unfamiliar industries shaped his early professional years. When he joined Exelon in 2004, the utility world felt like a foreign language. Derrick did what he has always done: he leaned in, he listened, and he learned by doing. Over time, the intricate network of wires, grids, and processes became a place where he found both purpose and people worth championing.
For Derrick, leadership is rooted in trust. He sets a clear course and empowers teams to navigate it. He believes good energy begins internally — in how people are encouraged, supported, and trusted to do their best work. He avoids micromanagement and instead offers direction with confidence and clarity: “Here’s where we’re going.”
But the moments that mean the most often come during storms. When severe weather hits and customers lose power, each minute represents a family waiting — for warmth, for stability, for a return to normal. Derrick and his teams work with urgency and compassion, striving to restore service to most customers within 48 hours and the remainder within 72. It is demanding work, but for Derrick, it is deeply human. Each restoration is a promise kept.
Derrick’s dedication to service extends far beyond his leadership at BGE. As a member of the United Way of Central Maryland Board of Directors, he brings the same steady, people focused mindset to the broader community. His work with United Way aligns closely with BGE’s long-standing partnership to support customers facing financial challenges — most recently through the expanded Customer Relief Fund, which provides critical winter energy assistance to households across central Maryland. For Derrick, these efforts reflect a shared mission: meeting people where they are and strengthening the communities BGE serves every day.
That same philosophy guides his vision for the future of energy delivery. Derrick is committed to building a stronger, more resilient grid — one that dramatically reduces outages and positions BGE at the forefront of reliability and innovation. It’s an ambitious goal, rooted in his belief that dependable energy and a thriving community go hand in hand. Whether restoring power after a storm or supporting customers through United Way programs, Derrick sees each effort as part of a larger purpose: ensuring that every household has the stability, support, and opportunity it needs to move forward.
