Sergeant First Class Michael Smith

Sergeant First Class Michael Smith currently serves as the Officer Personnel Management NCOIC, Joint Force Headquarters G1, Kentucky Army National Guard, Frankfort, Kentucky. Sergeant First Class Smith manages officer assignment actions, DA selection board operations, and personnel data affecting the officer corps across the entire Kentucky Army National Guard.

Sergeant First Class Smith enlisted in the Kentucky Army National Guard in 2005 as a Human Resources Specialist and served in a traditional status with the Field Maintenance Company, 149th Brigade Support Battalion, Owensboro, Kentucky. In 2011 he deployed to Iraq with the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in support of Operation New Dawn, performing Electronic Warfare duties as part of the final element to close Victory Base Complex and transfer the installation to the Government of Iraq.

From 2011 to 2013 he operated the DEERS/RAPIDS station for the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 149th Brigade Support Battalion, issuing Department of Defense identification credentials to Soldiers, retirees, and family members.

He entered the Active Guard and Reserve program in 2013 as the Training NCO for the Field Maintenance Company, 149th Brigade Support Battalion, where he also qualified as a Recovery Vehicle Supervisor and a Weaponcraft Instructor. In 2016 he moved to the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 149th Brigade Support Battalion, as the Assistant Operations NCO. From 2018 to 2020 he served as Readiness NCO and Detachment Sergeant for the 307th Support Maintenance Company. In 2020 he was assigned to Headquarters and Support Company, 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, as the Brigade Assistant Operations NCO and Senior Electronic Warfare NCO.

From October 2021 through November 2022, Sergeant First Class Smith mobilized under Title 10 authority in support of the Southwest Border mission, Request for Assistance 22. He served as the S8 NCOIC for a task force comprised of five battalions and 27 units from multiple states, executing Resource Management and Comptroller functions outside his primary military occupational specialty. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his performance, one of two noncommissioned officers from the brigade element to receive the decoration.

Sergeant First Class Smith serves concurrently in a leadership role with the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of Kentucky. He was elected Vice President, Army in February 2024 and assumed the office of President in August 2025. In that capacity he advocates for the enlisted force at the state and national level, conducts legislative engagements with the Kentucky congressional delegation, and directs organizational operations and signature fundraising events.

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