Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch Announces Retirement

Lonnie G. Bunch III will retire as the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution at the end of this year. He announced his departure after seven years in the role and nearly four decades of total service to the institution.

In a statement, Bunch expressed mixed emotions. "I have spent nearly half of my life working at and being part of the Smithsonian family, and what a privilege it has been," he wrote. He described the Smithsonian as "one of the great loves of my life" and stated his retirement comes with pride, sadness, gratitude, and joy. The institution's press release confirmed that details for the leadership transition will be announced later. The Smithsonian Board of Regents, which includes legislators and is chaired by Chief Justice John Roberts, will select his successor.

A Legacy of New Museums

Bunch's tenure as Secretary saw the Smithsonian expand its physical footprint. He oversaw the establishment of two new museums, which will join the institution's existing roster of 19. The Smithsonian American Women's History Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino were both added under his leadership. Last month, it was announced that the National Museum of the American Latino will occupy the historic Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall as its permanent home.

Digital Transformation and Pandemic Response

A major focus of Bunch's leadership was a digital-first transformation of the Smithsonian's vast resources. On his first day as Secretary, he questioned how to reinvent the institution's scholarship and collections "in a world without bricks and mortar." This shift proved critical during the Covid-19 pandemic, as the public turned to the Smithsonian for reliable information and educational content. Bunch, who credited his teacher parents with instilling the value of education, emphasized reaching people where they were through digital resources and distance learning tools.

From Curator to Founding Director

Bunch's Smithsonian career began in the late 1970s when he was hired by Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins to work in the education department at the National Air and Space Museum. He later held curatorial roles at the National Museum of American History, where he acquired the iconic Greensboro Lunch Counter and curated an exhibition on the American presidency. After leading the Chicago History Museum, he returned to Washington, D.C., for what he considers his career's high point: founding the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), which opened in 2016.

Reflecting on building NMAAHC, Bunch recently stated, "There's no doubt that it was the high point of my career." He dismissed the idea that becoming Secretary was his capstone, noting he had already achieved it with the museum's creation. In a 2025 interview, he said he took the Secretary role out of respect for his colleagues, describing the Smithsonian as essential to a nation understanding itself. He plans a next chapter focused on protecting the institution's integrity and championing history.