Mike McCarthy departs the Smithsonian after 13 years

“This Friday [May 8], we bid farewell to our colleague and friend, Mike McCarthy, our Under Secretary for Administration,” said Secretary Lonnie Bunch in an announcement today.

McCarthy started his 13-year career at the Smithsonian in 2008 following a lengthy stint at General Electric, where he served in several global leadership positions. He first worked in Smithsonian Enterprises, where he was the Financial Planning & Analysis Director. It did not take long for the Institution to recognize the portability of his skillset, and  he was hired by the National Museum of Natural History to serve as their Associate Director for Operations; he also served as their Acting Associate Director for Development for a period of time. He was then recruited away from that role in 2018 to be the Deputy Under Secretary for Finance and Administration, a position which showcased his many talents and paved the way for his time as the acting and then permanent Under Secretary.

As Under Secretary for Administration, McCarthy shepherded the Smithsonian through several Secretarial transitions, a pandemic, the purchase of Capital Gallery, numerous construction projects, and a variety of crises and challenges. Mike brought a unique blend of talent and experience to the role of USA. His time at NMNH gave him a deep appreciation for the needs and challenges of the Units, and of the importance of a strong relationship with Smithsonian’s central administrative services. He applied his experience from the business sector to great effect in the management of Smithsonian’s finances, particularly during the challenges brought on by the pandemic, and he earned the trust and respect of our senior leadership, external partners, and of the Board of Regents. “The list of his contributions is both long and varied,” Secretary Bunch continued. “There is no doubt that Mike has strengthened the operational underpinnings of the Institution and we all will benefit from his efforts for many years to come.”

“Those who have worked with Mike also would characterize him as a skilled and thoughtful leader. He is an incredibly hard worker who is dedicated to the Smithsonian and its people, and he has an enormous capacity to get things done with focus and drive, traits he has inspired in others. He finds opportunities to give credit to others, sets high standards for excellence, and consistently puts the needs of the Institution above his own.  Both Meroë and I have benefited from his frank and honest assessments, his creative problem solving, and his sense of humor. We know that Mike will be missed by those who know him, but even more so, the Institution will miss a significant contributor,” Secretary Bunch concluded.

Doug Hall, who has been the Institution’s lead for the COVID response team and who previously served as the Acting Deputy Undersecretary for Administration, will step into the interim role effective May 8. Hall will continue to helm the COVID response team. Allison Willcox, the Associate Director for Operations at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, has been asked to serve as the Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Administration. Not only does this provide some additional leadership during a busy time for the Institution, it also provides an opportunity to bridge the work of the center with the work of the units.

P

Related posts:

ICYMI: Highlights from the week that was June 2 – June 8, 2019 Thank you, volunteers ICYMI: Highlights from the week that was May 19 – May 25, 2019 Sidedoor: Take who out to the ballgame?