Col Smith is a native of Medway, Maine, and graduated from Colby College in 1995 with a B.A. in Chemistry. Upon graduation, Col Smith worked in the field of Marketing Consulting for two years before enlisting in the Marine Corps in February 1998 and serving with 3rd Battalion 7th Marines as an infantryman. Col Smith was commissioned through the Enlisted Commissioning Program in April 1999 and was designated a Naval Aviator in October 2001. In November 2001, he reported to HMM(T)-164 for initial training in the CH-46E.
Col Smith’s operational tours include service with HMM-162 where he served in the operations department while participating in multiple Combined Arms Exercises and deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM I with 2d MEB/3d MAW and as part of the 26th MEU (SOC) ACE in support of the Landing Force 6th Fleet (LF6F) and OIF. In 2006, Col Smith transitioned to the MV-22 tiltrotor and transferred to VMM-162. During this assignment, he deployed to Al Asad, Iraq in support of OIF 08.01, attended the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course, and deployed with the 24th MEU in support of HA/DR efforts in Haiti during OPERATION UNIFIED RESPONSE and combat operations in the Central Command Area of Responsibility. In 2014, Col Smith returned to VMM-162 to serve as the aircraft maintenance officer and executive officer during the squadron’s 2015-2016 deployment with the 26th MEU. From 2022-2023 Col Smith served as the Director of Operations (G-3) for Task Force 51/5 (5th MEB) aboard NSA Bahrain.
Col Smith’s staff and supporting establishment tours include Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 29 future operations planner; MAWTS-1 MV-22 Division Instructor, MV-22 Division Head, and Assault Support Department Head; MAG-26 Executive Officer; Joint Staff J-8 Force Application Division (FAD) Air and Space Dominance Branch Head.
Col Smith commanded VMMT-204 and Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1).
Col Smith is a graduate of the WTI Course, Expeditionary Warfare School (Non-Resident Seminar), Marine Corps Command and Staff (Non-Resident Seminar), Naval Command and Staff College (Resident- with distinction), and the National War College (Resident). He holds an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and an M.A. in National Security Studies from the National War College.
Col Smith’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (Third Award), Air Medal (Strike/Flight Numeral 7), and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Third Award).