Joseph R. DiPietro is the Chief of Operations and Acting Architect of the Capitol. As Acting Architect, he leads the agency's mission to preserve and maintain the historic buildings and grounds across the Capitol campus.

DiPietro oversees the stewardship of the 570 acres and 18.4 million square feet of buildings under the Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) domain. His responsibilities also include oversight of the U.S. Botanic Garden. In addition, under the direction of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library, he is responsible for the care of all works of art in the U.S. Capitol as well as the maintenance and restoration of murals, outdoor sculptures and other architectural elements throughout the campus.

As Acting Architect, DiPietro serves on the Congressional Accessibility Services Board and as an ex officio member of the United States Capitol Preservation Commission. In addition, he fulfills the AOC's responsibilities as a member of the District of Columbia Zoning Commission, the President's Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the National Capital Memorial Commission, the Art Advisory Committee to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and the National Institute for Conservation of Cultural Property.

As Chief of Operations, DiPietro oversees the lifecycle operations and maintenance of the buildings, grounds, gardens and infrastructure on the Capitol campus. He establishes policies, standardizes procedures, and coordinates operations and facilities management functions across the AOC's operational jurisdictions. He assures the delivery of high-quality service and support to the Congress, Supreme Court, other AOC building tenants and the visiting public.

Professional Experience

Prior to joining the AOC, DiPietro was the Executive Chief of the Office of Technical Development and Mission Support at the United States Secret Service, where he was employed for over 24 years. In this position, he was the Secret Service's most senior engineering professional and principal executive responsible for the long-term planning, programming, design and construction of major engineering and construction projects that support protective operations at the White House Complex, the Vice President's Residence and other facilities across the United States. He has been the executive in charge of numerous complex engineering, scientific and construction projects for the Secret Service, including the design and construction of new protective structures, dedicated underground utility and infrastructure systems, state of the art operations centers, and the annual recurring maintenance for the projects under his purview.

A member of the Senior Executive Service since 2012, DiPietro enjoys mentoring managers and staff on his team and providing them with professional development opportunities to advance their careers. He advocates for providing continuing education classes to ensure employees stay current on the latest innovations in their fields of expertise and that they can maintain their professional licenses and certifications.

Education

DiPietro received a Bachelor of Science degree in Structural Design and Construction Engineering Technology from Penn State University. He later obtained his Master of Science degree in Project Management from George Washington University. Additionally, he is a registered professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.