Darrell Darnell has been appointed as the Regional Safety and Security Director for the Eastern region at FIFA. This role will leverage Darnell’s extensive experience in homeland security, emergency management, and campus safety, ensuring the safety and security of FIFA’s operations and events in the region.
Darnell’s career spans several high-profile roles across federal, state, and local government levels, as well as in academia. He previously served as Adjunct Faculty at Sam Houston State University, Director of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resilience Policy at the White House National Security Staff, and Director of the Preparedness Division, Operational and Integration Staff at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
With a decisive and dedicated approach, Darnell has consistently demonstrated his ability to lead and manage organizations effectively. His expertise includes developing and implementing strategies for emergency management preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. Additionally, he has played a crucial role in homeland security and law enforcement activities for federal, state, and local organizations, as well as for a major university.
Darnell’s senior executive experience includes directing planning and interagency coordination for special events and National Security Special Events. He is recognized as a thought leader in enterprise risk management and has provided testimony to Congressional committees overseeing homeland security. His leadership roles have included serving as Chairperson of the District of Columbia Homeland Security Commission from 2013 to 2017 and being selected as a senior fellow with the George Washington University Center for Cyber and Homeland Security.
Darnell has served on various subcommittees of the Department of Homeland Security, including the Homeland Security Advisory Council and the FEMA National Advisory Council. His expertise is well-regarded, with his profile featured in the textbook “Contemporary Organizational Behavior: From Ideas to Action.” He is also a published author in professional journals such as The Journal of Business Continuity and Emergency Planning and Inside the Minds.
Darnell is an Affiliated Faculty member at the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He serves as a Subject Matter Expert at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security Executive Education Program. His professional memberships include the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), and Leadership Greater Washington.
In his new role at FIFA, Darnell will be responsible for overseeing the safety and security of FIFA’s events and operations in the Eastern region.