M.W.Bro. Joe C. Darnell was elected and installed as the 41st Grand Master of Masons of Alaska on February 5, 2021.
Prior to his service as Grand Master, Joe served the Grand Lodge of Alaska as a District Deputy of the Grand Master, Junior Grand Warden, Senior Grand Warden, and Deputy Grand Master. He served on the Bylaws, and Sessions and Arrangements Committees prior to becoming a member of the Grand Line.
Joe was raised a Master Mason in 1985 by his father at Eagle River lodge No. 13, a charter member of Iditarod No. 20, and a life member and Past Master of both lodges. With the encouragement and active participation of the Brothers, he received the Grand Master’s Award of Excellence each year he served as Worshipful Master, and received the Grand Lodge of Alaska’s Mason of the Year award for 2017. Joe is also a member of Matanuska Lodge No. 7, and an Honorary Past Master of Valdez Lodge No. 4.
In addition to his Grand Lodge and Blue Lodge labors, Joe is a life member of the Alaska York Rite and the Scottish Rite, Valley of Anchorage. He is also a member of the advisory board for Rainbow Assembly Nugget No. 13 of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls.
In 2002, Joe retired with the rank of Senior Master Sargent after 20 years as an Air Force Security Policeman. In 2003, he started with the State of Alaska as the Chief Investigator for Tobacco Enforcement, where he is currently employed. Joe has two sons, one a sailor and one a marine; they are third generation members of Eagle River No. 13, along with his brother John. Joe enjoys cooking, martial arts, and riding motorcycles.
