G. Wayne Clough, the president of Georgia Tech, will become head of the Smithsonian Institution July 1, more than a year after the previous chief, Lawrence Small, resigned over accountability issues.

“This is a treasure of our country, and it needs to move forward,” Clough, 66, said Saturday.

The Smithsonian Institution, without a permanent chief since former secretary Lawrence Small resigned under a cloud earlier this year, is now being criticized for failing to maintain its buildings and protect its collections.

The Government Accountability Office issued a report yesterday saying the backlog of necessary construction at the Smithsonian has increased to $2.5 billion, mainly because the institution has sought federal funds rather than allocating private donations to the projects.