John L. Gray was selected as the executive director and chief executive officer of the Autry Museum of Western Heritage in June 1999, and in May 2004 he became the president and chief executive officer of the newly formed Autry National Center. Gray serves on the board of directors of the Museums West Consortium, the Community Development Technology Center, the Idyllwild Arts Foundation, and LA INC.

Prior to joining the Autry, Gray served as associate deputy administrator for Capital Access of the Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C. He also served on the advisory board of the Community Development Financial Institution Fund and on the finance committee of the North American Development Bank.

Prior to 1996, he had a long career in commercial banking and was most recently an executive vice president at the former First Interstate Bank of California. Gray was a founding board member of the Los Angeles Community Development Bank and chair of the California Community Development Corporation. Before moving to California, he was with First Interstate Bank, Denver, Colorado.

Gray received his bachelor’s degree from C. W. Post College and his master’s degree from the University of Colorado.