About Donald G. James
Donald Gregory James is an executive leader, a manager, a mentor, and a friend, father, and husband.
He began his thirty-five-year NASA career as a Presidential Management Intern at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Maryland, in 1982. In 1984, he transferred to NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, serving in roles of increasing responsibility and complexity, including public affairs, government and community relations, and education.
After the 1986 Challenger space shuttle tragedy, which affected him deeply, Donald chose to make a career at NASA. Asked to support the postaccident speaking tour of backup Teacher in Space Project astronaut Barbara Morgan, Donald was so inspired by the overwhelming love and support for America’s space program–and education–that he realized NASA was a special place where he could make a difference.
In 2014, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden selected Donald to serve as the agency’s associate administrator for education, where he led a team of civil servants and contractors organized to strengthen NASA’s and the nation’s future technical workforce. Donald retired from NASA on March 31, 2017.
Donald holds a BA in international relations from the University of Southern California. He was awarded a three-year graduate fellowship from the National Science Foundation to pursue his MA in international economic development from American University. He also studied economics and history at Cambridge University and attended Harvard’s Senior Executive Fellows program.
He is the recipient of numerous awards and citations for exemplary service.
Manners Will Take You Where Brains and Money Won’t: Wisdom from Momma and 35 Years at NASA
With Manners Will Take You Where Brains and Money Won’t, Donald James goes beyond handshakes and thank-you notes to explain how the true definition of manners is the authentic and genuine way we show up in the world. With inspiring and thought-provoking stories from his 35 years in public affairs and education at NASA, and guided by the lessons his mother taught him, Donald explains how having good manners is a key ingredient to finding purpose, fulfillment, and meaning in business and in life.
With an engaging foreword by Congressman Eric Swalwell, Manners Will Take You Where Brains and Money Won’t represents a call to dignity and etiquette at a time in our history when those qualities matter more than ever. The book is an essential guide for recent graduates, young professionals, mentors, human resource managers, and anyone who wants to build fulfilling and meaningful relationships at work and elsewhere.
Read a more in depth description of the book in James’ website.
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