Derek Herrera is a Medtech Entrepreneur, former Marine Raider, decorated Special Operations Officer, and the Founder and CEO of Bright Uro, a medical technology company dedicated to transforming urological care through innovative, patient-centered solutions. A passionate entrepreneur, Derek is driven by a simple but powerful mission: Improve life through innovation.

Born on April 2, 1984, in Little Rock, Arkansas, Derek graduated from Dover High School in 2002 and went on to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. Commissioned as a Marine Officer in 2006, he completed The Basic School and Infantry Officers Course before being assigned to 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment. He deployed to Ar Ramadi, Iraq, as a Police Transition Team Leader in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and later led humanitarian and training missions across the Middle East and Africa with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

In 2010, Derek was selected for Marine Special Operations Command and became the Marine Special Operations Team (MSOT) Commander for MSOT 8131. During a deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2012, he was shot and paralyzed by enemy fire. After extensive rehabilitation, he continued to serve in a leadership capacity before medically retiring in 2014.

Derek’s personal decorations include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with Valor, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

In 2015, he earned his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he was honored with the John Wooden Global Leadership Fellowship and recognized by Poets & Quants as one of the Top 50 EMBA students of the year.

Today, Derek channels his leadership and resilience into advancing medical device innovation. In addition to Bright Uro, he is also the Founder of Habit Camera, and remains actively involved in veterans advocacy, entrepreneurship, and family life.

“Improve life through innovation” is more than a motto—it’s the mission that drives every decision Derek makes.