Biography

Mr. Smith is the Training Coordinator for Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Training and Exercises at the 70 acre Disaster City® Training Facility at the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. For the last ten years, Mr. Smith has managed the delivery of a catalog of 22 different training courses for state, national, and international US&R teams. In this capacity, Mr. Smith is also requested to provide technical assistance and subject matter expertise to states and urban areas to improve or establish new urban search and rescue capabilities. Additionally, he teaches case studies and other specialized courses at Disaster City. 

In 2011, Mr. Smith designed and developed the US&R Rescue Specialist Certificate Program, the only advanced program of its kind in the world with 66 graduates to date. Mr. Smith is also the Contract Manager for the FEMA National US&R Training Contract which is a five year, $9 million IDIQ contract issued to TEEX in December 2012. The contract is to provide all curriculum revision and training courses for the 28 national Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces across the country. 

Since 2005, Mr. Smith has been a member of Texas Task Force 1, the state’s elite Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) Task Force, which is also a member of the Federal US&R System. His responses have involved serving as a Public Information Officer for over 10 large scale disasters, including Hurricane Ike. Mr. Smith currently serves as a US&R Technical Information Specialist on the TX-TF1 Blue Team. 

Mr. Smith specializes in response and training of US&R teams as well as specialized types of search and rescue including structural collapse, passenger rail incidents and CBRNE response operations. Mr. Smith provides SME assistance in designing, budgeting, and delivering large full-scale exercises for up to 500 participants. 

Mr. Smith completed his Masters in Public Administration and Service in December 2015 from the Bush School of Government and Public Service. His concentration focus was in Homeland Security Policy and Management.

EXPERTISE

• Urban Search and Rescue

• Passenger Rail Rescue

• Emergency Management

• Disaster Preparedness

• CBRNE Full Scale Exercises

CERTIFICATIONS

• Structural Collapse Rescue

• Planning Section Chief

• Situation Unit Leader

• Water Rescue Technician

• US&R Planning Team

• Public Information Officer

EDUCATION

Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA) - December 2015

    Texas A&M University, Bush School of Government and Public Service

    Concentration in Security Policy and Management

• • Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management - August 2015

  • Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security - December 2012

Bachelor of Arts - Political Science - December 2003

    Texas A&M University, College of Liberal Arts

    Focus on International Relations and European Politics