Fall Lecture Series 2025: Minh Le + Chris Wallace
Minh Le AIA NOMA
Architect, Design Manager
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations
Minh Le, AIA NOMA is a public architect with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO). Since 2007, he has served as the Design Manager for missions in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific Islands on capital security projects totaling over $6B. His work includes completed facilities in Burundi, Djibouti, Indonesia, Mauritania, Mongolia, Mozambique, Niger, and Taiwan, as well as ongoing projects in Australia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, and Türkiye.
Since 2014, he has instructed nearly 1,000 Department of State personnel through the U.S. National Foreign Affairs Training Center’s Foreign Service Institute, focusing on the process and values of design for American embassies and consulates.
Prior to joining OBO, Minh was the lead designer for Jacob’s Engineering Group’s contract with the Department of State. Over two and a half years, he led design on twelve different projects at U.S. diplomatic facilities spanning four continents and eleven cities, including new embassies, major rehabilitations, and security upgrades. Minh was first introduced to designing diplomatic facilities in 2001 when he joined Washington, DC based Sorg & Associates, PSC, working on notable projects in Baghdad, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Kabul, Kathmandu, and Paris.
Minh is licensed to practice architecture in DC, Virginia, and Maryland. He received an Executive Education Certificate from Harvard Business School, a Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis, and a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Virginia.
Chris Wallace RA
Architect, Design Manager
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations
Chris Wallace, RA NCARB CCCA is an architect with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO). Since 2019, he has served as the Design Manager for missions in Asia, Africa, and Europe on capital security projects totaling over $2B. His work includes ongoing projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Djibouti, India, South Sudan, and Thailand.
Prior to joining OBO, Chris served as a designer for Hartman-Cox Architects in Washington, DC and specialized in federal projects managed by the General Services Administration (GSA) and Smithsonian Institution. Over three years, he participated in the design and construction administration phases of the new U.S District Courthouse in Mobile, Alabama and renovations to the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
Chris is a licensed architect in Washington, DC and has over 10 years of experience in the design and construction industry including government, institutional, commercial, and private work. He received a Master of Architecture from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Virginia.