MSgt Thomas N. Smith was born in Galveston, TX. Upon graduation from LaMarque High School in 1997, he enlisted into the United States Marine Corps. MSgt Smith attended boot camp at Marine Corp Recruit Depot San Diego, California and graduated from 1st Recruit Training Battalion in September of 1997.
He was then transferred to Camp Pendleton, California where he was assigned to the School of Infantry for training where he received the MOS of 0311, Rifleman. MSgt Smith was subsequently stationed at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, California with 2d Battalion, 7th Marines including deployments to Japan and South Korea in 1998 and 1999.
In April 2001, he attended the Imagery Intelligence Apprentice School at Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, TX receiving the MOS 0241, Imagery Analyst and subsequently reported for duty to 3d Force Service Support Group, Okinawa, Japan.
In September 2004, MSgt Smith transferred to Marine Corps Intelligence Activity (MCIA), Suitland, MD, where he served as team lead for assessment and implementation of emerging technologies including 3d modeling methodologies and various Measures and Signatures Intelligence (MASINT) Methodologies. While with MCIA, MSgt Smith volunteered for and was selected for a globally sourced Military Transition Team (MiTT) providing support to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) via a 12 month deployment to the Iraqi Training Center, Fallujah, Iraq where he was embedded with the 2d Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division as an Intelligence Advisor and default turret gunner.
In April 2008, MSgt Smith transferred to 3d Intelligence Battalion, Okinawa, Japan and subsequently deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), as a Production Chief and Geospatial Intelligence Chief in support of Asia Pacific exercises and Humanitarian Disaster Relief Operations throughout Japan, Korea, Thailand, The Royal Philippines and Australia.
In December, 2010, MSgt Smith transferred to the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, Cherry Point, NC, for subsequent deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) as the Collection’s and Imagery Chief for 2d MAW Forward. Upon his return he served as Operations Chief for the G-2 and was selected for assignment to the Defense Attaché Program where he served as the Operations SNCOIC for the Defense Attaché Office (DAO), Accra, Ghana, in support of Defense and State Department agendas within West Africa including support to Operation United Assistance (OUA).
MSgt Smith is currently stationed at Marine Corps Detachment, Fort Belvoir, VA as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commanding Officer and the headquarters staff personnel of the Military Occupational Specialty producing schools consisting of the (0241) Tactical Imagery Analysis Course, (0261) Basic Geospatial Intelligence Specialist course and the (0261) Intermediate Geospatial Intelligence Specialist course.
MSgt Smith’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal (Gold Star in lieu of second award), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd Gold Star in lieu of third award).