Colorado School of Mines, 1983
Hometown: Parker, CO
Inducted May 2012
Colonel John J. Smith graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Geophysical Engineering. Upon commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in May 1982, Colonel Smith served in the Corps of Engineers with the United States Army Reserve. His military education includes Airborne School; the Mapping, Charting, and Geodesy Officer’s Course; the Army Corps of Engineers Basic and Advanced Officer Courses; the Ordnance Officer Branch Qualification Course; the Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Course; the Combined Arms and Services Staff School; Command and General Staff College; and the Reserve Component Multifunctional Combat Service Support Course. In addition, he is a graduate of the Army War College and holds Masters Degrees in Electrical Engineering, Biomechanical Trauma, and Strategic Studies.
Colonel Smith has commanded at the company, battalion, and brigade equivalent levels, serving with the 526th Engineer Detachment (Terrain Analysis), 579th Engineer Detachment (Geodetic Survey), and 649th Engineer Battalion (Topographic) in Germany; the 244th Engineer Battalion (Heavy) and the 651st Area Support Group in Denver, Colorado; the 96th Regional Readiness Command; and the 651st Regional Support Group in Aurora, Colorado. He deployed as the Battalion Commander of the 439th Engineer Battalion from Bismarck, North Dakota in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2003 to April 2004. Currently, he is the Deputy Commander of the 311th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) in Los Angeles, California.
In addition to military service, Colonel Smith is an industry leader, serving as President of Raymond P. Smith & Associates, an engineering consulting firm with projects throughout the United States and in the Middle East, that specializes in engineering project management, engineering design, failure analysis, investigation, collision reconstruction, and biomechanical analysis. He is a published author and subject matter expert in the field. Colonel Smith is a licensed Professional Engineer in Colorado.
Colonel Smith’s military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Training Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Humanitarian Service Medal, Volunteer Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Parachutist Badge.
Colonel Smith is married to the former Susan Alexander, and they have a daughter Christina and a son Sean.