The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—The Smithsonian Institution returned to its academic roots on Saturday, naming the president of Georgia Tech as the new leader of the museum complex beleaguered by financial scandals.

G. Wayne Clough, an engineer by training, will become the 12th secretary of the world’s largest museum and research complex on July 1, assuming control of an institution that has been in turmoil in the past year.

Smithsonian board Chairman Roger Sant promised Clough would usher in a new era. “When you see this man in action, as you will, you will understand why he is renowned for his integrity, vision and leadership,” Sant said.

Clough has served as Georgia Tech president since 1994 and has degrees in civil engineering. He is credited with transforming the Atlanta school into a top 10 public university, boosting research spending and raising nearly $1.5 billion.

The Smithsonian, which includes the National Zoo and the National Air and Space Museum, has much in common with a university, Clough said. He noted it has a similar budget and staff size to that of Georgia Tech.

“Fortunately,” he said with a laugh, “the Smithsonian does not yet have a football or basketball team.”

The first 10 secretaries to lead the institution had academic backgrounds, most of them in the sciences. The last, businessman Lawrence Small, resigned a year ago amid an investigation into his spending. Several top officials followed him out the door.

The institution also has been criticized for its executive compensation and questionable business practices. The Smithsonian’s business unit struck a controversial deal with Showtime Networks Inc. to form a joint TV venture.



Later, museum scientists clashed with administrators over political concerns on a climate-change exhibit, and the Smithsonian backtracked on a donation from the oil industry to fund an upcoming Ocean Hall.

Asked about those cases, Clough told The Associated Press that the Smithsonian should not shy away from controversial subjects and ultimately must “speak the truth” and guard its academic freedom.

Cristian Samper, a biologist who was director of the National Museum of Natural History, has been serving as acting secretary. In the past year, Samper began reforming the Smithsonian’s business practices and executive travel policies with the Board of Regents. He will continue as acting secretary through July and then will resume as museum director.

Mark Allen, senior vice provost for research at Georgia Tech, said faculty members did not know in advance that Clough would leave.

“What he’s recognized for in Georgia Tech is helping transform us from a good, regional, engineering university to a university with international recognition,” Allen said. “We were very lucky to have him for as long as we did.”

Clough will be paid $490,000 with no additional compensation or housing allowance — a pay cut from his compensation at Georgia Tech. In the 2006-2007 fiscal year, his total compensation was $551,186, including $133,125 in deferred compensation.

Museum curators and researchers had complained Small was too focused on money rather than the Smithsonian’s educational mission. Small was to earn $915,698 last year in total compensation — more than double what he earned during his first year as secretary in 2000.

An audit last year by the Smithsonian’s inspector general found that Small charged the institution more than $1.1 million for agreeing to use his home for official functions. The housing expenses included $273,000 for housekeeping, $2,535 to clean a chandelier and $12,000 for service on his backyard swimming pool.

Meanwhile, as executive compensation grew under Small, the Smithsonian carried a hefty $2.5 billion backlog on facilities maintenance.

The Smithsonian is heavily dependent on taxpayer funds, receiving 70 percent of its $1.1 billion annual budget from Congress.