Darnell Manning

The man and the mission

A life shaped by purpose.

Darnell Manning was born at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and raised in Washington, D.C. Those early foundations—rooted in military community, family, and the unmistakable character of the nation's capital—helped shape a life centered on duty, leadership, and service.

On August 31, 2015, Darnell began nearly nine years of service in the United States Army. As a geospatial engineer, he developed the discipline to study terrain, understand the larger picture, and give leaders the information needed to move with purpose. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant before completing his military service on January 31, 2024. His Army career strengthened his ability to organize, communicate, mentor, and remain steady when others depend on him.

A permanent change of station brought Darnell to Kansas in November 2019. He was raised as a Master Mason in Acacia Lodge No. 91 on December 11, 2021, and was immediately entrusted by the lodge with election to the office of Junior Warden. When military orders carried him to Hawaii in August 2022, he transferred his membership to Cosmopolitan Lodge No. 1 under the Prince Hall jurisdiction of Hawaii, continuing his Masonic walk while serving far from Kansas.

After leaving the Army in 2024, Darnell returned his membership to Acacia Lodge No. 91. That December, the brothers elected him to the Secretary's desk. He was elected again the following year, reaffirming the lodge's trust in his commitment to its records, communication, continuity, and future.

For Darnell, Freemasonry is more than a title or meeting place. It is a guide that has helped keep him upright before God and man. Through the Craft, he has learned temperance, direction, timing, and the discipline of listening before acting. Those lessons inform both the way he serves the lodge and the way he approaches life.

Away from his duties, Darnell enjoys gaming whenever time allows. Much of his energy, however, is devoted to moving Acacia forward. He intends to bring dependable structure to the lodge while helping it advance confidently into a new age—honoring the landmarks of the Craft while embracing the tools needed to serve today's brothers and community.

At the center of his life is his family. Darnell is happily married and the proud father of five children, ages fifteen, thirteen, nine, six, and eighteen months. They are his lifeline and his treasure—the reason behind his work and the legacy he strives to build.