Steve Hawkins is currently the Chief Operating Officer of FDR Safety LLC. He began his employment with FDR in March of 2020. Steve previously served as the Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development and as the Assistant Commissioner for Tennessee OSHA for seven years.
In his role as Deputy Commissioner, he managed Tennessee OSHA, the state Unemployment Insurance System, and the Workplace Regulation and Compliance Division.
Prior to joining FDR Safety he began his career with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development in 1986 as an Occupational Safety Specialist in TN OSHA. He was promoted to area office Safety Supervisor, Safety Compliance Manager, Assistant Administrator, Assistant Commissioner, and most recently, Deputy Commissioner of the department.
Steve served as the department’s representative to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the Tennessee Emergency Response Commission. He is a member of the following councils and committees: Tennessee Blasting Advisory Council, Tennessee Associated Builders and Contractors Safety Advisory Committee, Associated General Contractors Safety Committee, and the Tennessee Road Builders Association Safety Committee.
Steve is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Safety and Health Conference.
Steve graduated from the College of Engineering at Tennessee Technological University in 1986 with a BS in Industrial Technology. In 2016, he was recognized by the university as the Technologist of Distinction and was admitted to the Academy of Renaissance Engineering. He is also a member of the Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Advisory board at the university.