Office of Protection Services Leadership

Mark Wallace serves as the director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Protection Services and the host and chair for the National Conference on Cultural Property Protection. He is a strategic leader in risk management and mission effectiveness and has over 24 years of law enforcement and museum security experience.  

Prior to joining the Smithsonian, Wallace was the chief of the Office of Protection Services for the National Gallery of Art (NGA), where he managed a diverse workforce of more than 300 personnel. 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 entered and exited the building, and provided discrete and accurate surveillance and behavior analytics.  

In addition, Wallace worked as director for the Integrated Emergency Operations Center for the Department of Defense 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. He serves on the board of the National Conference on Cultural Property Protection.  

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.

Morgan C. Kane, MPA, serves as the Deputy Director of the Smithsonian Institution's Office of Protection Services, Operations.

In this role, she oversees security, protection, and law enforcement operations for 21 Smithsonian museums, the National Zoo, and multiple research centers located in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, New York, Arizona, Hawaii, and Panama. Her responsibilities include hiring, training, and deployment of OPS officers. She is also responsible for OPS's emergency management, collections escorts, cultural property protection and overall operations. Kane also manages international travel, intelligence operations and all operational planning for special events requiring coordination with various stakeholders, federal and local agencies, and industry representatives. Kane is also responsible for the National Mall Security Working Group coordination and activities.  

Prior to joining the Smithsonian, Kane retired from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in February 2024 as the Assistant Chief of Police for Patrol Services North where she oversaw operational deployment and management of over 1200 personnel. She joined the MPD in 1998 and held numerous positions, including leading the Technical and Analytical Services Bureau and the Executive Office of the Chief of Police. Kane's career at MPD included roles in patrol operations, policy development, and homeland security. She was promoted through the ranks, achieving Sergeant in 2004, Lieutenant in 2007, Captain in 2012, Inspector in 2014, Commander is 2016, and Assistant Chief of Police in 2021.

Kane has been recognized with several awards, throughout her distinguished career. She holds a bachelor's degree in paralegal studies from Marymount University and a master's in public administration from the University of the District of Columbia. Additionally, she is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School's Executive Leadership Program. 

Dylan Garon is the Deputy Director of Physical Security and Business Operations for the Office of Protection Services where he provides executive direction on all aspects of Smithsonian-wide physical security programs, identity management, security risk management, human resources, budget, procurement, and training.

Prior to this position, Dylan served as Associate Director for Security Operations at OPS where he provided oversight of approximately 800 proprietary and contract security staff and was responsible for ensuring the Smithsonian museums and facilities develop and maintain comprehensive strategies to effectively address security issues spanning the full spectrum of emergencies, crimes, and customer service challenges. He began his service at the Smithsonian in 2006 as an intern and rose through the ranks, holding numerous positions and leading numerous pan-Institutional initiatives, including the Smithsonian Project SEARCH steering committee, which is dedicated to preparing young people with significant disabilities for success in competitive employment, the Reopening Committee in response to COVID-19, and proudly leading a Smithsonian-wide working group dedicated to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. 

Dylan is a proud native of New Hampshire, holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Marymount University, and is a graduate of the Smithsonian’s Palmer Leadership Development Program.