Office of Protection Services has a new director

Mark Wallace will join the Smithsonian November 21.

Doug Hall, Acting Under Secretary for Administration, announced today that Mark Wallace will become Director of the Office of Protection Services, effective November 21. A strategic leader in risk management and mission effectiveness, Wallace brings 24 years of law enforcement and museum security experience to the role. 

Wallace will be responsible for the security functions supporting the Smithsonian’s 21 museums, including the two new museums in development—the National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, as well as the National Zoological Park, education centers, research facilities, and multiple cultural centers and libraries. He will oversee more than 850 employees specializing in security operations, physical security, personnel security, and business operations, including financial resources, procurement, maintenance and capital programs, health and safety, and more. 

He comes to the Smithsonian from the National Gallery of Art, where he is the Chief of the Office of Protection Services, managing a diverse workforce of more than 300 personnel. While at NGA, Wallace prioritized technology upgrades to maintain a high level of security and enhance incident-reaction time while accurately counting the number of people that enter and exit the building and providing discrete and accurate surveillance and behavior analytics.

In addition to his work for the National Gallery of Art, Wallace was director of the Integrated Emergency Operations Center for the Department of Defense from 2009 to 2013, where he was responsible for the safety and security of the Pentagon Reservation and the Department of the Interior’s Information Sharing and Analysis Division. There, he worked as a Watch Commander, Interim Director of the Victim Assistance Program, Intelligence Coordinator, and Acting Assistant Director. Wallace also served the Department of Justice from 1994 to 2004 in several roles, including Law Enforcement Coordinator and Anti-Terrorism Officer in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He also serves on the board of the National Conference on Cultural Property Protection.

Wallace holds a master’s degree in national security strategy from National War College, a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from the University of the District of Columbia, and an associate’s degree in law enforcement from the University of the District of Columbia. 

Mark Wallace succeeds Jeanne O’Toole, who served as the director of OPS until October 2020. “I want to give my special thanks to Mike Reese, Deputy Director for OPS, who stepped up to serve as Acting Director during this interim period,” Hall said in his announcement. “Mike has done an exceptional job stewarding the many important functions performed by OPS staff, and he has been a key member of the senior team. Most notably, Mike played a critical role in leading OPS during the COVID-19 pandemic, helped support the Smithsonian’s reopening efforts and hosted and chaired the National Conference on Cultural Property Protection. Mike will continue in the interim role until Mark arrives in November.

“Please join me in welcoming Mark Wallace to his new role as Director of OPS,” Hall concluded. “His expertise and leadership will assist in cultivating the next OPS strategic plan and continue to provide world-class safety and security to our staff, visitors, and collections.”  

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