Former National Museum of the American Indian director Rick West spent more on travel and was away from Washington, D.C., more than any other Smithsonian director.
In his last year as director, West took 30 trips and was away for 180 days. His trips cost a total of $105,598, more than twice the amount spent by any other director.
West's travels took him to Berlin, Vienna, Sydney, Wales, Paris, Abu Dhabi and other locales in the U.S.
He has said his trips were necessary to further the mission of the NMAI and to raise funds.
Some members of Congress have criticized the travel as excessive. West spent more than $250,000 on travel in four years, The Washington Post reported.
West, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, ran the museum for 17 years. He was replaced by Kevin Gover, a member of the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.
Get the Story:West's Travel Topped Other Smithsonian Directors' (The Washington Post 2/2)
pwpwd Relevant Links:
National Museum of the American Indian - http://www.nmai.si.edu Related Stories:
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Harjo: On Rick West, Kevin Gover and NMAI (1/15)
Rick West: 'Gossip' journalism in ICT and WaPo (1/11)
Opinion: Rick West's abuse of power at NMAI (1/11)
Editorial: Rick West lost sight of basic mission (1/7)
Editorial: Rick West's extravagant lifestyle (1/4)
Ex-NMAI director West spent over $250K on travel (12/28)
Secrecy shrouded hiring of new NMAI director (09/19)
Gover outlines vision for Indian museum (9/18)
Cobell: Gover's hiring an affront to Native people (9/18)
Whites outnumber Indians on NMAI search panel (9/17)
Editorial: Kevin Gover, experience and NMAI (9/14)
Gover defends record after criticism from Cobell (9/13)
Cobell blasts Gover's appointment to NMAI (9/12)
Kevin Gover to take over NMAI on December 2 (9/12)
Kevin Gover named new director of NMAI (9/11)
