Skip navigation
About Us
Explore
Administration
Related Links
Secretary G. Wayne Clough
Wayne Clough is the 12th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Clough envisions a new era for the 164-year-old Institution, expanding the Smithsonian’s global relevance and helping the nation shape its future through research, education and scientific discovery on major topics of the day.
One of his first initiatives led to a new strategic plan that speaks to four grand challenges that will bring together the diverse resources of the Smithsonian’s museums and science centers through interdisciplinary approaches.
Ensuring that the Institution’s vast collection is accessible and available to everyone is a priority for Clough and the new strategic plan. Efforts are underway to digitize much of the Smithsonian’s 137 million objects in the collection.
Since Clough began as Secretary in July 2008, he has overseen several major openings at the Smithsonian, including the reopening of the National Museum of American History, the David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins and Sant Ocean Hall at the National Museum of Natural History.
Before his appointment to the Smithsonian, Clough was president of the Georgia Institute of Technology for 14 years. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Georgia Tech in 1964 and 1965 and a doctorate in 1969 in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
Secretary Clough in Smithsonian Magazine
"From the Castle:
A Better Space"
August 2011
By G. Wayne Clough
"...just attracting large numbers is not our purpose. Rather we aim to provide
a singular and memorable experience to each visitor. In that regard, the Air and
Space Museum is about to get even better."
Read
article on Smithsonian.com...
Written Testimony
- U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Research and Science Education
July 21, 2010 - U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies
April 14, 2010 - U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and National Archives
December 16, 2009 - U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations
December 10, 2009 - U.S. House of Representatives Committee on House Administration
April 1, 2009
Occasional Papers
Speeches
Shultz Forum on World Affairs , March 23, 2011
» Watch the video
Rural Education Conference, July 21, 2010
» Read text
(PDF)
Long Now Foundation, August 17, 2009
» Listen to podcast
(MP3)
» Read text
(PDF)
Installation of Secretary Clough
January 26, 2009
