BRETT ZONGKER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chief financial officer at the Smithsonian Institution has been appointed to serve as acting secretary of the museum complex early next year after the current secretary retires.

A spokeswoman says Smithsonian Chancellor John Roberts, the Supreme Court chief justice, appointed Albert Horvath to serve as acting secretary beginning in January. Horvath has been the undersecretary for finance and administration since 2011.

In March, the Smithsonian Board of Regents selected Cornell University President David Skorton to be the next leader of the Smithsonian beginning in July 2015. Current Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough is retiring.

As the Smithsonian’s CFO, Horvath oversees a $1.3 billion operating budget and $200 million capital budget. Before joining the Smithsonian, Horvath was a university administrator, most recently holding finance posts at Penn State and Columbia University.

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