Smithsonian travel reviewed

WASHINGTON -- An internal review of travel expenditures by Smithsonian Institution museum directors found no other problems after a former leader came under fire last year for his use of luxury airfare, hotels and limousines, officials said.

“We’re getting questions, as you can imagine, from members of Congress,” acting Smithsonian Secretary Cristian Samper said in an interview this week. “I wanted to make sure our people are out there traveling and using our resources wisely, and I think the answer is yes, they are.”

In December, it was revealed that the former director of the National Museum of the American Indian spent more than $250,000 in Smithsonian funds on first-class travel around the world over the last four years. W. Richard West recently retired from the director’s post and left the nonprofit Smithsonian.

Last year, West spent $105,598 in museum funds on 30 trips, averaging $3,520 per trip. He was away on business travel 180 days, according to the review ordered by Samper. West has said all of his travel was authorized and necessary for the launch of a museum that covers cultures beyond the United States.

The review of last year’s travel by 19 other executives showed that one spent nearly half as much as West, and that the rest spent far less.

Eldredge Bermingham, acting director of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Center in Panama, spent $43,373 on 17 trips for an average cost of $2,551. Most other directors spent $1,300 or less per trip.

Samper was named acting head of the Smithsonian in 2007 after the previous secretary, Lawrence Small, resigned amid criticism of his compensation and spending. Samper, who was previously director of the National Museum of Natural History, spent $17,394 on 27 trips, according to the review.

The Smithsonian revised its travel and vacation policies for museum executives last year in governance changes following Small’s departure. Limousine service was prohibited except for rare exceptions. Samper said West complied with Smithsonian policies, but a more comprehensive review of executive travel is being conducted by the Smithsonian’s inspector general.

“I think Rick was clearly was out of the norm in terms of the amount of time he spent out there,” Samper said, adding that West played a critical role in opening the American Indian museum. “I’m really trying to turn this page and move the institution forward.”

On Wednesday, Martin E. Sullivan was named director of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery.

Sullivan, 63, who is the leader of the Historic St. Mary’s City Commission in Maryland, succeeds Marc Pachter, who retired Jan. 25. Sullivan will take his new post on April 28.

He currently is in charge of museum research, interpretation and site preservation of Maryland’s first capital, a National Historic Landmark. He also works with St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where his duties include coordinating academic programs in public history and museum studies.

Sullivan has led three national boards concerned with advancing museum standards, ethics and practices. He was named in 2006 to the Centennial Honor Roll of the American Assn. of Museums, which recognizes outstanding efforts in advocacy and leadership.