COL Thomas P. Smith
Commander, Memphis District

Col. Thomas P. Smith took command of the Memphis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, July 13, 2007, following a year of study at the National War College in Washington. His military career includes a commission in the Corps of Engineers upon graduation from the U.S. Military Academy in 1984, followed by a wide range of command and staff positions both within and outside the United States.

As Memphis District Commander, he is responsible for flood risk management, navigation, environmental stewardship, emergency operations, other authorized civil works, and work for others along 610 miles of the Mississippi and White Rivers, encompassing a 25,000 square mile area in six states — Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

Col. Smith served as Commander of the USACE Louisiana Recovery Field Office until its deactivation Oct. 1, 2007. He currently oversees the work of the Memphis District’s Hurricane Branch, which continues to address post-hurricane recovery work. Additionally, a significant number of Memphis District employees are currently involved in rebuilding the New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System.

Col. Smith’s recent assignments include Chief, Army Initiatives Group, Deputy Chief of Staff G-3 (Operations) in the Pentagon and command of the 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Ft Stewart, Ga.; a key engineer battalion in the 3rd Infantry Division’s attack to Baghdad and subsequent stability operations east of the Tigris River.

Additional assignments include Senior Engineer Observer/Controller at the Combat Maneuver Training Center (CMTC) in Hohenfels, Germany; Battalion Executive Officer for the 54th Engineer Battalion in Bamberg, Germany; and a tour as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. While assigned to the faculty, Col. Smith also performed consulting engineer work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Following an initial troop leading assignment with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, he commanded C Company, 17th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas, and D Company, 554th Engineer Battalion, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.  

Col. Smith is a graduate of the National War College, the Command and General Staff College, and the Engineer Officer Advanced and Basic Courses. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy, a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla, and a Master of Science degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the National War College. He is also a registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia. His awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Airborne Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Sapper Tab. He wears the Presidential Unit Citation for his association with the 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq in 2003 and is also a recipient of the Army Engineer Association’s Bronze de Fleury medal.

Col. Smith and his wife Kelly are both from New York and have six children: Kathleen living in New Jersey; Emily and Hannah attending college in New York; and Patrick, Mary, and Andrew with them here in Tennessee.