Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III

Secretary Lonnie Bunch sits at table with hands folded

Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian. He assumed his position June 16, 2019. As Secretary, he oversees 21 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers, and several education units and centers. Two new museums—the National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum—are in development. Bunch was the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. He chronicled the creation of the museum in his book, A Fool’s Errand: Building the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the Age of Bush, Obama, and Trump, and is the first historian to be Secretary of the Institution. In 2021, he received France’s highest award, The Legion of Honor.

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General Inquiries

For general inquiries to the Secretary's Office, please email or call:

SmithsonianSecretary@si.edu
202-633-1846

Media Inquiries

For interviews and other media inquiries involving the Secretary, please contact:

Linda St. Thomas
stthomasl@si.edu
202-633-5188

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Please contact the Secretary's office at SmithsonianSecretary@si.edu or 202-633-1846 with any questions about or to submit requests for the Secretary's time.

International Delegations

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Email: global@si.edu