Col. Michael V. Smith, USAF (Coyote)
Colonel (Select) Michael V. Smith is the Chief of Future Concepts, a shop known as “Dream Works,” of the National Security Space Office. Dream Works explores, develops, advocates, and links future concepts, capabilities, and promising technologies to advance the art of spacefaring across the security sector. He is the director of the Space-Based Solar Power Feasibility Study, and also serves as a Visiting Military Fellow at National Defense University where he is co-authoring a two-volume set on space power theory. The lieutenant colonel was born in North Conway, New Hampshire. He entered the Air Force in 1986 through the Saint Michael’s College Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He has served in various space and missile positions and as an instructor at the USAF Weapons School-Space Division. Most recently he was Commander of the 321st Missile Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne Wyoming, where his unit was recognized as the “Best ICBM Squadron in Air Force Space Command.” During Operation ALLIED FORCE he served in the Combined Forces Air Component Commander’s Strategy Cell and on the Guidance, Apportionment, and Targeting Team. During Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, he served at USCENTCOM Headquarters as a strategist on General Tommy Frank’s staff and in the Space and Information Operations Element. He later served as the chief air and space power strategist in the Pentagon’s Strategic Planning Council during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. EDUCATION 1986 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, Cum Laude, Saint Michael’s College, Winooski, VT. 1986 Distinguished Graduate, AFROTC, Saint Michael’s College, Winooski, VT. 1987 Distinguished Graduate, Missile Combat Crew Training, Vandenberg AFB, CA. 1991 Master of Arts Degree in Political Science, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD. 1992 Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell AFB, AL. 1994 Distinguished Graduate, Undergraduate Space Training, Vandenberg AFB, CA. 1996 Distinguished Graduate, USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV. 2000 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL. 2001 Master of Airpower Art and Science, School of Advanced Air and Space Power Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL. 2004 Air War College, Nonresident Learning Program, Maxwell AFB, AL. 2010 (Commencing in fall 2007) PhD, Politics and International Relations, University of Reading, UK ASSIGNMENTS 1. November 1986 - May 1987, Student, EuroNATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, 88th Flying Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, TX. 2. May 1987 - October 1987, Student, Combat Crew Missile Training, Vandenberg AFB, CA. 3. October 1987 - June 1991, Instructor, Evaluator, Flight Commander, Missile Combat Crew Commander, 67th Strategic Missile Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD. 4. June 1991 - August 1993, Wing Executive Officer, 44th Missile Wing, Ellsworth AFB, SD. 5. August 1993 - February 1994, Chief, Facilities Maintenance Flight, 44th Field Missile Maintenance Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, SD. 6. February 1994 - April 1994, Student, Undergraduate Space Training, Vandenberg AFB, CA. 7. April 1994 - April 1995, Chief of Current Operations, 2 d Command Control Squadron, Schriever AFB, CO. 8. May 1995 - August 1995, Executive Officer, 4409th Operations Group (P), Riyadh Air Base, Saudi Arabia. 9. August 1995 - June 1996, Deputy Chief, Passive Operations, 21st Operations Support Sq, Peterson AFB, CO. 10. June 1996 - April 1999, Space Weapons Instructor, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV. 11. April 1999 - July 1999, Space And IO Campaign Planner, Strategy/Guidance, Apportionment And Targeting Cell, 5th Allied Tactical Air Force Combined Air Operations Center, Dal Molin Air Base, Vicenza, Italy (Attached). 12. August 1999 - June 2000, Student, Air Command And Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL. 13. July 2000 - June 2001, Student, School Of Advanced Airpower Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL. 14. July 2001 - September 2001, Strategist, Strategy, Concepts, And Doctrine Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC 15. September 2001 - December 2001, Strategist and Campaign Planner, Space And Information Operations Element, Headquarters U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, FL (Air Staff Liaison). 16. January 2002 - June 2003, Chief, Doctrine Branch, Strategy, Concepts, and Doctrine Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC 17. June 2003 - 2003, Chief, Wing Safety, 90th Space Wing, F. E. Warren AFB, WY. 18. September 2003 - July 2005, Commander, 321st Missile Squadron, F. E. Warren AFB, WY. 19. August 2005 - Present, Chief, Future Concepts, National Security Space Office, Pentagon, Washington, DC BADGES Command Space Operator Badge MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster Joint Service Achievement Medal Air Force Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster National Defense Service Medal with bronze star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze star Kosovo Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal NATO Medal PUBLICATIONS Smith, M.V. “Cognac With Douhet.” Air and Space Power Chronicles, 01 May 2001. Smith, M.V. Ten Propositions Regarding Spacepower. Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.: Air University Press, October 2002. Smith, M.V. “Some Propositions on Spacepower,” Joint Force Quarterly, Winter 2002-2003, 56-64. EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant May 10, 1986 First Lieutenant Aug 10, 1988 Captain Aug 10, 1990 Major May 1, 1998 Lieutenant Colonel Nov 1, 2002 Colonel Dec 1, 2007 (Projected)