Dr. Steven A. “Doc” Smith was born in Detroit, Michigan. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering with honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1992. He earned his Master’s Degree from the Joint Institute for the Advancement of Flight Sciences (JIAFS), a consortium of the George Washington University and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that was the predecessor to the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA). Dr. Smith completed his Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 2001. Dr. Smith entered the Government civilian workforce on 27 August 2000. He assessed into the United States Army Acquisition Corps on 16 February 2006.

Dr. Smith began his civilian career as an Army Research Laboratory aerospace engineer embedded within NASA Langley Research Center. He rapidly progressed through the engineering ranks and is certified in Science & Technology Management, Systems Engineering, Program Management, and Test and Evaluation. He has held roles of increasing responsibility within the Army aviation enterprise since he entered the federal work force. He transitioned from ARL to Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) in 2003 and worked as an airworthiness systems engineer, program systems engineer, Deputy Product Manager, and Product Manager supporting United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and Special Operations Command (SOCOM) in the A/MH-6 “Little Bird” Program Office. He has held nearly every role associated with the acquisition and fielding of special operations aircraft. Dr. Smith was appointed to the Senior Executive Service on 10 March 2024 and currently serves as the Director Special Programs (Aviation), U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) and Program Executive Officer for Rotary Wing with duty station at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

Dr. Smith is a 6-time Ironman finisher. He was awarded All-American Honors by USA Triathlon in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.

Dr. Smith currently resides in Hampton, Virginia with his wife Kelly. He and his wife have three children, Gavin, Jonathan, and Alexandra.