2026

Speakers

Mark E. Wallace

Director, Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Protection Services
Chair for the National Conference on Cultural Property Protection

Mark E. Wallace is the Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Protection Services (OPS) and the host and chair for the National Conference on Cultural Property Protection since 2021. He is a strategic leader in risk management and mission effectiveness and has over 30 years of law enforcement and museum security experience.   

At OPS, Director Wallace is responsible for protecting over 30 million visitors each year, along with a diverse portfolio of more than 700 buildings, comprising 13+ million square feet, 19,000+ acres of land, 21 museums, 21 libraries, nine research centers, and the National Zoo.  Wallace is the principal security advisor to the Secretary and senior Smithsonian leadership; principal representative on all Smithsonian security-related matters involving the federal and local government; and responsible for leading and directing 24-hour-a-day security and investigative services for Smithsonian facilities and properties that house over 6,000 employees.   

Wallace directs, through subordinate supervisors, a staff of about 850 employees and over 200 contract staff in a variety of professional, technical, administrative, and protective occupations. He provides policy guidance and technical leadership to ensure efficiency and economy. Wallace has implemented a Strategic Plan that lays the groundwork for the mission, vision, and values for the organization over the next five years, and his vision is for OPS to be “recognized as the leaders in cultural property protection.” OPS staff will reach this vision by carrying out its mission: “to provide the highest level of protection for visitors, staff, and collections,” all while upholding the organizational values of “honor, service, and integrity.” 

As a lifelong civil servant, Wallace has served in many roles, including as Chief of the Office of Protection Services for the National Gallery of Art, where he managed a diverse workforce of more than 300 personnel, before coming to the Smithsonian. 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 worked as Director for the Integrated Emergency Operations Center for the Pentagon from 2009 to 2013, where he was responsible for the safety and security of the Pentagon Reservation. Prior to that he was Acting Director for 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.  

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