A Department of Administration was created in 1971 to oversee the daily operations of the Hirshhorn Museum. It was also responsible for coordinating the various stages of exhibition preparation to ensure completion of each exhibition.

Joseph Sefekar was the first Administrator and served until 1978. The Office was renamed the Department of Administration and Museum Support Services in 1979, and Nancy F. Kirkpatrick became its Director. The position was variously titled Executive Director and Assistant Director between 1979 and 1992. Beverly Lang Pierce became Administrator and later Assistant Director for Administration, serving 1992- . Around 1995 the office was renamed the Department of Administration.