Jim Smith, Superintendent

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Preparedness Directorate’s (NPD) and National Training and Exercise Division announced James E. Smith (Jim) as the new Superintendent for the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP). Mr. Smith reported to his new assignment, Monday, December 17.

Mr. Smith began his public service career as a United States Army officer, before retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2002. During his military career Smith served in a variety of assignments to include the U.S. Army Chemical School at the former Fort McClellan, as Corps Chemical Officer, Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) in Germany & Bosnia-Herzegovina and as the Base Support/Garrison Commander, Kaiserslautern, Germany. Mr. Smith also served as the Commander, Chemical Defense Training Facility (CDTF), Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., prior to his retirement in 2002.

Following military retirement Mr. Smith joined the private sector as the President and General Manager of the Bella Vista, Arkansas Property Owners Association, a not-for-profit Corporation operating the unincorporated city at the time with 38,000 property owners and over 20,000 city residents.

In 2009 Mr. Smith joined the federal service as a Department of the Army Civilian, and served with the U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM), as the Executive Officer for the G3 and the Chief of the Operations Center. During this period he was also responsible for establishing and leading the G34 Division (Protection, Emergency Management & Surety) and implementing mandates for Federal and Department of Defense all-hazards Emergency Management and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear surety programs.

Following his assignment with IMCOM, Mr. Smith rejoined the private sector, in 2011, and transformed a private manufacturing company to profitability, before most recently being selected as the CDP Superintendent.

Mr. Smith graduated from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in 1981. He earned a Master of Military Art and Science degree in Operations, Plans & Training from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1995 and a Master of Arts degree in Business and Organizational Security Management from Webster University in 2010.