Smithsonian leader Lonnie G. Bunch Announces Retirement
Lonnie G. Bunch III, the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, announced that he will retire from his position, concluding nearly 38 years of service at the Smithsonian and a career that has shaped the museum field in the United States and beyond, Smithsonian Media releases.
Lonnie Griffith Bunch III
“It is with very mixed emotions and heartfelt gratitude that I announce my retirement from the Smithsonian,” Bunch said. “I have spent nearly half of my life working at and being part of the Smithsonian family, and what a privilege it has been. There is no place like the Smithsonian—it has been one of the great loves of my life, and I am extraordinarily proud of what we have accomplished together. I leave with pride and sadness, gratitude and joy, and with enormous confidence in the people who will carry this remarkable institution forward.”
As Secretary, he led the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, which includes 21 museums, 20 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers, and multiple education units and centers.
During his nearly 40-year career at the Smithsonian, Bunch has guided major milestones that showcase the Institution’s wide-ranging mission. These achievements include bringing the Greensboro Lunch Counter to the National Museum of American History, assisting in the creation of the first-ever image of a black hole, and welcoming two new giant pandas to the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
Bunch began his Smithsonian career in 1978 at the National Air and Space Museum before holding various curatorial and leadership roles at the National Museum of American History until 2000. As associate director for curatorial affairs, he managed the curatorial and collections staff while helping guide major exhibitions exploring American history, culture, and identity.
Bunch has long been a leading advocate for museums and public engagement. As Secretary, he guided the Smithsonian through a period of transformation while advancing plans for two new, Congress-authorized institutions: the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino. Recently, the museum reached a major milestone when the Smithsonian Board of Regents named the historic Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall as the permanent home for the National Museum of the American Latino.
