WASHINGTON (AP) - Washington businessman Roger Sant and his wife Vicki are giving $10 million to endow the director's position at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and to support its research and programs.

Sant is a member of the Smithsonian Board of Regents. The gift announced Wednesday is being made through the Sants' foundation, the Summit Fund of Washington.

Sant is co-founder of Arlington, Va.-based AES Corp., a global power company.

Sant says he wanted to make a gift in recognition of the museum's director, Cristian Samper. Sant says the museum has grown and thrived under Samper.

After serving as director since 2003, Samper announced in January that he will leave the museum this summer to become president and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York City.