Landgrave Thomas Smith, Jr.
September 27, 1921 ~ August 25, 2016
Colonel Landgrave T. Smith Jr. (USAF Ret) left on his last flight on the evening of the 25th of August 2016 at the age of 94.
Col. Smith flew 42 combat missions in the Martin B-26 Marauder during WWII, and continued on full flight status as an AOB jet-qualified command pilot for 30 years.
He was assigned to Strategic Air Command in 1951. He was heavily involved in the design and implementation of the SAC underground command and control center at Offut AFB, and was responsible for development of the system of operational codes and sealed authenticators for positive control of nuclear weapons.
That was followed by duty with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1967, where he was responsible for the operation of the National Military Command Center at the Pentagon. During the Vietnam conflict he served as Command and Control Operations deputy with CINCPAC.
His final major tour of duty with the Air Force was with the National Emergency Airborne Command Post. As Chief NEACP he oversaw development and acquisition of the E4 Advanced Airborne Command Post, a system for which he had initiated the operational requirement while at SAC.
After active service with the Air Force Col. Smith joined IBM Federal Systems as part of the World Wide Command and Control System architecture team as a Senior System Engineering Manager. He specialized in aerospace systems, scale theory and metrics during the 14 year period.
Following that he continued as an adjunct Senior System Engineer with the Institute for Defense Analysis, Science and Technology division, serving as chairman of the Information Security Technology working group.
Throughout his active life, he followed the honorable profession of arms. His military honors have included the Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters and the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
A graduate of the Air War College, he later took a Master's degree in International Relations at George Washington University. His personal activities during an active life included polo, blue water sailing, music, and photography, with memberships in professional and other organizations too numerous to list. A voracious reader throughout his life, his intellectual pursuits included Literature, History, Philosophy, and Science.
He is survived by his wife of 73 years Harriette (Dulcy) A. Smith, his son Dr. Landgrave T. Smith (Elizabeth), his grandson Maj. Landgrave T. Smith, USA (Jessica), and two great-granddaughters.
Funeral services will be held for Colonel Smith at Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel with interment to follow at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday February 1, at 1 p.m. Please assemble at the chapel no later than 12:45p.m. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.moneyandking.com
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Col. Smith flew 42 combat missions in the Martin B-26 Marauder during WWII, and continued on full flight status as an AOB jet-qualified command pilot for 30 years.
He was assigned to Strategic Air Command in 1951. He was heavily involved in the design and implementation of the SAC underground command and control center at Offut AFB, and was responsible for development of the system of operational codes and sealed authenticators for positive control of nuclear weapons.
That was followed by duty with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1967, where he was responsible for the operation of the National Military Command Center at the Pentagon. During the Vietnam conflict he served as Command and Control Operations deputy with CINCPAC.
His final major tour of duty with the Air Force was with the National Emergency Airborne Command Post. As Chief NEACP he oversaw development and acquisition of the E4 Advanced Airborne Command Post, a system for which he had initiated the operational requirement while at SAC.
After active service with the Air Force Col. Smith joined IBM Federal Systems as part of the World Wide Command and Control System architecture team as a Senior System Engineering Manager. He specialized in aerospace systems, scale theory and metrics during the 14 year period.
Following that he continued as an adjunct Senior System Engineer with the Institute for Defense Analysis, Science and Technology division, serving as chairman of the Information Security Technology working group.
Throughout his active life, he followed the honorable profession of arms. His military honors have included the Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters and the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
A graduate of the Air War College, he later took a Master's degree in International Relations at George Washington University. His personal activities during an active life included polo, blue water sailing, music, and photography, with memberships in professional and other organizations too numerous to list. A voracious reader throughout his life, his intellectual pursuits included Literature, History, Philosophy, and Science.
He is survived by his wife of 73 years Harriette (Dulcy) A. Smith, his son Dr. Landgrave T. Smith (Elizabeth), his grandson Maj. Landgrave T. Smith, USA (Jessica), and two great-granddaughters.
Funeral services will be held for Colonel Smith at Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel with interment to follow at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday February 1, at 1 p.m. Please assemble at the chapel no later than 12:45p.m. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.moneyandking.com
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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