Michael Smith grew up across the street from Columbus Metropolitan Airport. As a child he was enamored by the sound and power of the jets that would routinely fly by. Aflac has their headquarters there and the company’s executives used to fly a Dassault Falcon 50 in and out; FedEx flew a Boeing 727. “I came to love the sound and watching planes became somewhat of an obsession for me,” Smith says. “In addition, there used to be an annual airshow, Thunder in the Valley. As a child, that was the only time I got to get up close and personal with airplanes and so it was like a second birthday every year. I was very fortunate to have to opportunity as an adult to give back and volunteer my time and work with the airshow for its last two years of operation – that was a very rewarding experience.”
Prior to Smith’s current role, he says he hadn’t found anyone as obsessed or passionate about aviation as he was. So, Smith found heroes in lieu of mentors for a long time, Kelly Johnston, Ben Rich, Jack Northrop, Donald Douglas. “Far too many greats to list here,” he explains. “When I took on my current role, I met Gary Brossett and I found someone just as passionate about aviation as I am. Concerning all things aviation, I’ve not met anyone who’s more knowledgeable and so I’m always picking his brain about this or that.”
Smith’s career in aviation started with the US Navy as a powerplant mechanic. He graduated from Pensacola in April 2009 and got orders to VP-30 at NAS Jacksonville, FL working on the mighty P-3C Orion, now his favorite airplane, and just missed conversion to the Boeing P-8A. From there he moved to Norfolk, VA with VAW-121 working on Hawkeyes, where he completed two deployments aboard CVN-69 USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. “I elected not to reenlist and instead came home to Columbus where I was quickly hired by Pratt & Whitney’s Columbus Engine Center as a final inspector,” he notes. “I did this job for just over three years before taking a new role as the FOD prevention program coordinator in 2016. In my current role, I manage our FOD program, ensuring we are properly protecting our customers product from induction to shipment back to the customer.”
A year prior to taking this role, Smith got to a point where he missed working with aircraft so he joined the Georgia Air National Guard, again as an engine guy. The USAF required that he attend their tech school which he did at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas. He completed a third deployment with his unit last year.
“I plan on starting my graduate next year with Embry Riddle, M.S. in Human Factors,” Smith shares. “Short term, I’d like to continue my education and build a base of experience in conducting investigations and accident analysis. Long term, my plan is to pursue employment with the FAA as a PMI or with the NTSB as a safety investigator. As I understand, these can be very competitive jobs. I also wouldn’t mind working in research understanding trends in aviation safety and coming up with solutions.”
However, he says his ultimate dream job is to help restore and maintain old warbirds.
