MEET OUR TEAMS
Operations
Building a better campus starts with caring for the facilities we have today. Our Operations team takes pride in making sure our campus reflects what it means to be a Volunteer – all day, every day.
The Operations branch of Facilities Services is led by Assistant Vice Chancellor Derek Bailey and is comprised of our Maintenance & Repair (including Lock & Key Services), Utilities & Energy, Building Services, and Operations units. These functions play a large role in making sure campus is clean, maintained, and efficient so that students, staff, faculty, and visitors have a consistent and quality experience 24/7/365.
Maintenance and Repair
The Facilities Maintenance & Repair unit is responsible for maintaining all systems across more than 250 buildings on the Main and Agricultural Campuses, as well as several off-campus facilities, operating 24/7 year-round. This includes managing lighting and electrical systems, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, plumbing, laboratory systems, and structural components such as roofing, walls, and windows.
Wayne Parsons
Director of Maintenance and Repair
Wayne Parsons joined the UT Facilities Services team in December 2023. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in facilities maintenance and management. Prior to joining UT, he served as a Construction Manager at the Y-12 National Security Complex.
He retired from the United States Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant after 26 years of service in Civil Engineering. When he is not at work, Wayne enjoys hunting, fishing, and winning at corn hole.
The unit is organized into specialized teams to better serve the diverse needs of the campus community, with dedicated groups supporting Education & General (E&G) facilities, Housing, Dining, and Athletics.
The team is composed of a mix of skilled general maintenance technicians and specialists trained in HVACR, Plumbing, and Electrical Services, ensuring a versatile and responsive approach to maintenance needs. With buildings ranging from newly constructed to over a century old, the Maintenance & Repair team brings extensive expertise in diverse heating, cooling, plumbing, and laboratory systems, working closely with researchers and educators to support various needs.
Additional responsibilities include coordinating with the campus elevator contractor, maintaining and repairing food service equipment, and managing emergency response efforts for both on-campus and off-campus buildings.
Lock & Key Services oversees the distribution of campus keys and the maintenance of locks. Their office is located in Walters Academic Building, Room A211, and operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Utilities and Energy
Utilities & Energy is divided into sub-unit teams under the umbrellas of building automation, utilities engineering, and energy task force.
Wes Willoughby
Director of Utilities and Energy
Wes Willoughby has served as Director of Utilities and Energy in Facilities Services since 2022 after serving as assistant director of utilities and general superintendent of the plumbing department for a combined 10 years. He began his career at UT as a project manager in 2007. With nearly 40 years of construction and maintenance, Wes leads with a focus on Master Plan benchmarks, strategic goals, and sustainable initiatives.
His responsibilities include oversight of the Steam Plant and chiller plants, Electrical sub stations and distribution and water utility distribution and works directly with local utilities agencies to ensure clear and consistent communication and safe operations. In his spare time, Wes enjoys church, camping with friends and snow skiing.
This unit is responsible for all electrical, HVACR, and Plumbing & Heating systems on the main and agricultural campuses including, but not limited to: large air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, high voltage electrical equipment, main switchboards, high pressure steam regulators, and metering for water and electricity.
Our Utilities & Energy team works closely with Knoxville Utilities Board for the distribution and maintenance of public utilities on campus such as sanitary sewer, water, and natural gas.
In addition to the above, Utilities & Energy is responsible for the maintenance & operation of the central campus steam plant which services more than 150 buildings and 8M square feet of space across the main and agricultural campuses. This steam is used for heating and domestic hot water, and sterilizer and autoclave operation, helping to keep campus comfortable and research equipment sterile.
ONE CALL AWAY, 24 HOURS A DAY
Emergency Repairs can be reported to Facilities Services One Call at 865-946-7777 24 hours a day.
Building Services
When prospective students decide which university to attend, they often site the appearance of campus facilities as a deciding factor. For this reason, Building Services is committed to keeping more than 14 million square feet of UT facilities clean and in good order. Service Aides work around the clock to ensure athletic and academic facilities are in top shape.
Gordon Nelson
Director of Building Services
Gordon Nelson has served in UT Facilities Services for more than 10 years, but he has many years of experience in facilities management for higher education.
Gordon graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts, and he has held the certification of Registered Executive Housekeeper since 1992. When Gordon is not at the office, he enjoys saltwater fishing, golfing, and watching the Vols play ball!
In addition, Building Services team members are considered essential personnel and wear that badge with pride, working on sunny days, snowy weeks, severe weather, and every single home football game.
Building Services provides the following services: hard floor restoration, carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, wood floor maintenance, window washing, recycling, dusting, rubbish removal, vacuuming, lavatory disinfecting, and floor washing, while the Arena & Athletics team is responsible for 7-days-a-week coverage of all athletics facilities.
Building Services also oversees UT Recycling and the Office of Sustainability. These teams are responsible for fostering sustainable development and promote social and environmental responsibility, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals, by providing services that reduce waste, consumption, food insecurity, greenhouse gas emissions, and water and soil pollution.. For more information on these offices and their initiatives, click here.
Operations
The Facilities Operations Unit provides a diverse range of services to the UT Knoxville Main and Agricultural campuses. Its offices include Landscape Services, Pest & Environmental Services,
and the Moving & Events Services team.
Randy Hamilton
Director of Operations
Randy Hamilton serves as the Director of Facilities Operations and brings 30 years of experience in facilities management to the team. He is responsible for oversight of Landscape Services, Environmental Services, Pest and Animal Services, and Moving and Event Services.
Randy is passionate about maintaining the extensive landscape and improving campus facilities. Randy holds several state and professional licenses and certifications including CEFP and ACE and is active in relevant professional organizations. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf and is an active member of his church.
Facilities Operations covers a wide range of services that keep campus safe, efficient, and beautiful – from lawns to lab spaces. This team is tasked with landscaping and lawn-care, arboriculture, pest control, safe resolution for hazardous conditions, and transfer and hauling services including event set ups, furniture assembly, and office moves.
900+
Acres of landscaping
& turf management
54,400+
Events Occurred
in 2024
9200+
Trees
on campus
3,000
Pest and environmental work requests in FY23/24
800
Average # of transfer
and hauling requests per year
It Takes a Volunteer
Facilities Services is made up of more than 600 individuals
who work tirelessly to keep campus running 365 days a year.