Office of Protection Services
The Office of Protection Services (OPS) is one of the largest units at the Smithsonian with over 850 employees. Our staff is dedicated to the mission of ensuring that visitors, staff, and collections are safe and secure, and our goal is to provide the appropriate security posture that will ensure that the Smithsonian collections are protected for future generations to enjoy. OPS law enforcement and security personnel work carefully on a daily basis to balance the safety and security of our visitors and employees with ease of access to the Smithsonian.
Whether it’s asking a question, reporting a crime, or seeking information on a lost and found item, this website will assist you. Thank you for your interest in OPS and the safety and security of the Smithsonian. We welcome your thoughts and ideas on how to better serve you.
National Conference on Cultural Property Protection (NCCPP)
NCCPP brings together professionals in the operational and physical security field to discuss insider threat and employee accountability, visitor experience, international affairs, and activism. Each year, global representation from museums and cultural property sites, universities and colleges, libraries, and security agencies attend the conference.
