John “Wally” Bird

John “Wally” Bird has over 40 years of interest in the Art Museum of the Americas and the mission of the Organization of American States (OAS).  He recently retired as a U.S. government manager of immigration programs and as a practicing attorney in immigration and intellectual property. Throughout his professional career, he has worked in OAS member and non-member countries. From 2003 through 2006 he was the refugee and parole lead for the Department of Homeland Security, living in Havana. From 2006 through 2012, he managed all Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services overseas programs, including the management of offices in Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, The Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Jamaica, and Canada. From 2007 to 2008, the U.S. From 2007 to 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security supported his studies as the first DHS student to attend the OAS Inter-American Defense College, Class of 47. Bird speaks Spanish and French. He shares ongoing relationships with artists and curators from Latin America and the Caribbean with his wife, Michelle Bird, a museum specialist, curator, and published author.