Accomplished Vietnam Vet retires after 45 years of service

Loren W. Smith otherwise known as “Smitty” was born in the year of 1942, to Ralph and Darlene Smith in Kearney, Nebraska.

Smitty enlisted in the Army August 30, 1965. His first duty station was Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., for basic training. During his time he served in the Vietnam War from August 1966 through September 1967. Smitty retired from the Army October 13, 1983. He received six Good Conduct Awards, the Bronze Star with V device, three Army Commendation Medals, and two Meritorious Service Medals.

Smitty married his lovely wife Linda. Together they have three children, Shane, Neal, and Chad and a total of five grandchildren.

Smitty started his civilian federal service at Fort Gordon March 12, 1984. During the period of 1984 to 1991, Smitty served as a Communications Specialist, Directorate of Combat Developments, Materiel and Logistics Systems Division. He was responsible for conducting studies and analyzes for the overall communications requirements of the tactical Army.

During the years 1992 through 2003, he served as a Telecommunications Manager, Directorate of Combat Developments, Concepts and Studies (Architecture) Division.

Smitty served as the Army and Signal Center principal source of communications actions pertaining to Signal concepts and architectures. He chaired and participated in many working groups, teams, panels, and committees as the lead representative. He developed the way-ahead for the Patriot C2 Integration and was instrumental in devising a solution to Patriot C2 architecture shortfalls.

Smitty assisted in the development of the Warfighter Information Network Signal Force XXI concept. He served as a key member of the First Digitized Force Architecture Team and the resident expert in the Training and Doctrine Command Army Enterprise system redesign. He played a key role in the redesign of the Army of Excellence Operational Facilities Board. He crafted the System Architectures for the Initial Brigade Concept Teams. He assisted in the development of the new Systems Architecture process for the Army that served as the master plan for Digitizing and Transforming Army units. During this time he received the Bronze Order of Mercury.

Smitty played a role in the development of the Architecture

was a new Integration Processing Center, which TRADOC element that evolved from the Center’s Directorate of Combat Developments, Concepts and Architecture Division. he Signal opments,

f of the Since 2003, Smitty served as Chief Program Management Division, Capabilities bilities

orate, Development and Integration Directorate,

ime he U.S. Army Signal Center. During this time managed a budget in excess of $37 dollars. He provided oversight and management million gement

e large of all contract actions supporting five divisions. One of his major accomplishments hments

ositions included the conversion of 34 military positions

to Department of the Army civilians.

the Smitty has always been a supporter for rights and welfare of his employees. He has been a respected leader throughout his civil service career. He consistently faced on-the-spot dilemmas and those short deadlines with triumph. Smitty just has that ability to evaluate a situation, sift through the information and find the important issues with ease. e