한인 2세 미 CIA 출신 미로 박(Meroe Park, 53)씨가 워싱턴 D.C. 스미소니언협회의 부회장 겸 COO(Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer)로 임명됐다. 미로 박 부회장은 2020년 1월 27일부터 스미소니엄협회 산하 뮤지엄, 연구센터, 교육기구, 행정 및 지원 임무를 감독하게 된다. 오리건주 유진에서 태어난 미로 박은 조지타운대학 졸업 후 미중앙정보국(CIA)에서 27년간 일해왔으며, 버락 오바마 행정부에서 CIA Executive Director를 지냈다.  

스미소니언협회는 미국미술관, 허쉬혼뮤지엄, 미초상화갤러리, 프리어/새클러 갤러리, 자연사박물관, 아프리카박물관, 항공우주박물관, 미동물원, 그리고 뉴욕의 쿠퍼휴이트 디자인뮤지엄과 인디언원주민뮤지엄 등 20개 뮤지엄을 관할한다. 현 스미소니언협회장은 흑인 로니 G. 번치 3세(Lonnie G. Bunch III)다. 

Meroe Park Named Deputy Secretary of Smithsonian Institution 

Meroe Park was named Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the Smithsonian, effective Jan. 27, Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III announced today. Park is the executive vice president of the Partnership for Public Service in Washington, D.C., and former executive director/chief operating officer of the CIA.

In her role as Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, Park will oversee most of the Smithsonian’s day-to-day activities across its museums, research centers and education organizations, as well as many administrative and support functions. She will work with the Secretary to implement his vision, overseeing major strategic initiatives and programs.

“Meroe has been one of our government’s leading executives, a committed public servant who has dedicated her career to advancing the mission of organizations while driving programs that support effective government,” Bunch said. “She’s a strategic thinker and a consensus-oriented leader who cares deeply about the people who perform the day-to-day operations of an organization. Meroe brings outstanding experience and will help lead the Smithsonian to have greater impact on our country. I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with her.”

Over the course of her 27-year career at the CIA (1989–2017), Park ascended from a junior intelligence analyst to the highest civil-servant position within the agency. In addition to serving as the CIA’s executive director/chief operating officer from 2013 to 2017, Park held wide-ranging roles, including acting director, chief of human resources, director of the office of corporate resources and chief of payroll. She guided the organization through several strategic initiatives including the modernization of the CIA’s information technology systems.

In her current role at the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service, she leads programs dedicated to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the federal government.

“I am incredibly humbled to be stepping into this role and could not be more excited to join one of America’s most admired institutions,” Park said. “As someone who has spent a career focused on service, I look forward to representing the Smithsonian’s many treasures, as well as its dedicated workforce. I am honored to have the opportunity to work with the Secretary in implementing his vision for the future.”

Park received the Presidential Rank Award––the executive branch’s highest honor for career professionals––in 2013 and 2016. She was awarded the CIA’s Distinguished Intelligence Medal in 2016. She serves on the board of directors of Butterfield Bank and the board of managers for Sequoia Solutions. Park is a Distinguished Executive in Residence at Georgetown University and holds a bachelor’s degree from the university’s School of Foreign Service.

About the Smithsonian

The Smithsonian Institution was founded in 1846 with a bequest from British scientist James Smithson (1765–1829) to found at Washington an establishment for “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” It is the world’s largest museum, education and research complex, with 19 museums and the National Zoological Park.

The Smithsonian’s collections document the nation’s history and heritage and represent the world’s natural and cultural diversity. The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at nearly 155 million, including more than 146 million scientific specimens and artifacts at the National Museum of Natural History.