50-Year-Reunion

Todd Smith 144 Gleneagles Road, Campobello, South Carolina 29322 smithr579@yahoo.com (813) 786 - 7757 May 31

After graduating from BHS, I enthusiastically looked forward to leaving Bluefield and starting a new journey. Many years later I regretted that attitude as I saw the area for the beauty, education and safety that it provided. I chose to attend Eastern Kentucky University to study Police Administration with the intent of entering Federal law enforcement. Like many things in life, it didn ’ t turn out that way. I entered the Army ROTC program my freshman year and quickly recognized it as a good fit. I applied and obtained a two - year Army ROTC scholarship that set me on the path of a military career. After graduating from college, I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army and then the adventure began. I married my wife Karen right after graduation and 46 years later the union still runs strong. One thing was clear about the military right from the start, they would send you where they needed you not where you may want. After ten months of officer training, I was promptly assigned to West Germany for three years. Karen and I treated this as a real opportunity to see Europe and we took advantage of it to travel as much as we could. As a new Army officer this was my first time leading a diverse group of people. I learned quickly and established leadership techniques that allowed me ultimately to successfully lead organizations of over 1000 people. After Germany I served in a variety of positions at Fort Jackson, SC, Bradley University, Peoria, IL as an ROTC instructor and then back to Germany for two years. After returning from Germany, I was assigned to the Army Staff at the Pentagon and this in many ways changed my life. I was a Major at this point handling a $500M program and routinely briefing senior Army Generals. They relied on my judgement, and this gave me a level of confidence way beyond my years and allowed my career to flourish. Moving on from the Pentagon assignment I went to a year - long Army School and then to Tampa, FL for a tour with US Special Operations Command. This was great for the family and finally allowed us to buy our first house. Of course, all great things come to an end, and I was subsequently sent to South Korea for a year without my family. I really enjoyed that tour and the Korean culture which led me to volunteer to go back several years later with my family. In 2001 I was selected to attend the National War College in Washington, DC for a year which led to a master ’ s degree in National Security Strategy. During that year I was also promoted to Colonel. In 2004 I was selected to take command of a major military ammunition storage and manufacturing complex near Bloomington, IN. This organization had over 800 personnel and was the second largest ammunition storage facility in the military.

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