The first African American to head the Smithsonian Institution was elected Tuesday by the collection of museums' board of regents, the organization announced in a statement. Lonnie G. Bunch III was elected as the 14th secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, which maintains more than a dozen museum and galleries, as well as the National Zoo. Bunch previously served as the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Bunch will replace the outgoing secretary, David Skorton. His appointment makes him the first historian to hold the position and the first museum director to serve as secretary in 74 years, according to the Institution. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who also serves as the Smithsonian Institution's chancellor, lauded Bunch in the statement. Bunch, who has been in the museum field for more than 35 years, said he was "humbled and honored" to be selected as the institution's new secretary.