G. Wayne Clough, the director of the Smithsonian Institution and its sprawling network of museums and research centers, announced that he will step down from his position in October 2014. Mr. Clough, whose official title is secretary, has headed the billion-dollar institution since 2008, and said he is announcing his decision to retire now in order to give the Smithsonian plenty of time to find a successor.
A search committee for a new director will be headed by John W. McCarter Jr., the vice-chairman of the board of regents, the Smithsonian’s governing body.
“When I became secretary in 2008, I believed strongly that the Smithsonian had enormous untapped potential, especially in digital technology, to reach millions of people and serve as a resource for those who cannot visit Washington,†Mr. Clough said. “I am confident that with our initiatives underway in bioconservation, education, digitization and fundraising, this is the right time to announce my plans for next fall so that an orderly transition can begin.â€
During his tenure, Mr. Clough appointed 10 new leaders for the Smithsonian institutions, including the National Zoo in Washington, the National Museum of American History, National Museum of African Art and the National Museum of Natural History. He also oversaw construction begin on the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, which is scheduled to open in 2015.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who serves as the Smithsonian chancellor, said that Mr. Clough’s “enthusiastic embrace of the Smithsonian’s mission has earned the public’s admiration and support.â€
