Speaking to and uplifting children of all ages, races, and communities about being and doing their best.

DARRYL GAINES

MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER & AUTHOR

About

Winnings

Training

MEET

DARRYL

DARRYL GAINES, PMP, EMBA

Mr. Gaines is a native of Mobile, Alabama and a 1988 graduate of Mississippi Valley State University. He was awarded a four-year scholarship to play football and majored in Computer Science with a minor in mathematics. Darryl was selected by the National Football League (NFL) Kansas City Chief’s in 1988 and managed a dual career working for McDonnell Douglas aircraft while playing for the Chiefs. He is a current member of the Former NFL Players Association where he volunteers in activities to help schools, families, and children. Darryl received an Executive MBA from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California.

He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and James Herbert White Masonic Lodge. He is a past member of the Board of Directors for Communities in Schools, which has a focus on empowering at risk and homeless children to stay in school. He volunteers as a mentor and speaks to students about their education and encouraging them to set goals and pursue their dreams. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Mobile Exploreum Science Center where he lends is expertise in Space Programs to help develop Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities at the Exploreum.

Mr. Gaines works at NASA and is the Associate Program Manager in the Commercial Lower Earth Orbit (LEO) Development Program at the Johnson Space Center. He is responsible for developing commercially owned and operated LEO destinations from which NASA, along with other customers, can purchase services and stimulate the growth of commercial activities in LEO. He has been employed with NASA for 33 years. He has worked across multiple NASA Centers and with several commercial companies, as well as international partners in Russia, Japan, Canada, and Europe.

He was selected to participate in a NASA Fellowship at The

University of Michigan, School of Business, where he successfully completed Business Acumen for High Potential Leaders. Darryl is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) which he received from the Project Management Institute.

He is also a member of the Houston Art Alliance Board of Directors where he works with members to implement the City of Houston’s vision, values, and goals for its arts grantmaking and civic art investments and to meet the needs of the arts community, such as disaster preparation, research on the state of the arts in Houston, and temporary public art projects that energize neighborhoods.

Darryl was also inducted into Mississippi Valley State University’s Football Hall of Fame.