Lieutenant Colonel
Professor of Military Science
Barney G. Smith was born in Stuttgart, Arkansas, on November 8, 1951. He graduated from Arkansas State University in 1974 with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. His military career, spanning over 30 years, began in 1969 when he enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on April 7, 1979, through the Arkansas Military Academy, Officer Candidate School. He served in various assignments in the 39th Support Battalion, 39th Separate Infantry Brigade, to include company commander of Company C, 39th Support Battalion, and as the Battalion Executive Officer. As an active duty National Guard officer, he served as the Mobilization Plans Officer, State Area Headquarters. He was one of the original coordinators of the Arkansas National Guard Youth Challenge Program. He also served on the Drug Education Program, a joint effort between the Arkansas National Guard and the Arkansas State Police. He then served on the Army Staff at the Pentagon as the National Guard Readiness Liaison Officer. Upon promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in 1999, he was assigned to Arkansas State University Department of Military Science (ROTC) where he served as the Professor of Military Science until his death in 2001. Among his many decorations and service medals, he received the Legion of Merit (posthumous), the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass device, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon.
