Colonel Michael Smith (retired) enlisted in the California Army National Guard on January 10, 1970. He rose to the rank of Specialist Five while attending Officer Candidate training and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant on September 3, 1971. On September 2, 1974, he was promoted to First Lieutenant where he held the positions as an Executive officer and an Evacuation Pilot. On September 15, 1978, he was promoted to Captain where he held the positions of an Air Ambulance Platoon Leader, an Assistant S3 and the 49th Transportation Helicopter Company Commander. On March 22, 1983, he was promoted to Major where he obtained the position of the S3 of the 40th Aviation Brigade. On September 1, 1989, he promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. While a Lieutenant Colonel, he was the Executive Officer of the 40th Aviation Brigade and the Executive Commander of the 1st Battalion, 140th Aviation. On March 6, 1995, he was promoted to Colonel and was appointed as the Commander of the 40th Aviation Brigade. On December 1, 1999, Colonel Smith was reassigned to Headquarters, State Area Command as Director, Army Aviation. He separated from the Army National Guard and transferred to the Retired Reserve USAR Control Group (Retired) on September 30, 2001.

Colonel Smith’s military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award), Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award), Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Master Army Aviator Badge, Order of California and Commendation Medal. He was a Master Aviator who loved flying as much as he loved serving his Country.

Assistant Sheriff Smith (retired) began his career in 1976 as a Deputy Sheriff assigned to Patrol and Corrections. After being promoted to Sergeant, he supervised the Sheriff’s Aero Bureau, modernizing the Bureau to turbine helicopters. When promoted to Lieutenant, he had assignments as Watch Commander at both Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center and the Main Jail and was an Executive Assistant for the Office of the Sheriff. In April 1989, he was promoted to Captain. During his tenure, he commanded the Technical Services Division, North Patrol Division, Court Security Division, Main Jail Division, Work Release Division, Administrative Division, Narcotics/Gang Division and the Northwest Division. In March 2001, he was promoted to Chief Deputy and assigned to Field Services. On February 14, 2003, Michael Smith was appointed as the Assistant Sheriff. He retired from the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department on October 31, 2004, only to return to Sacramento County as the head of Sacramento Region’s Homeland Security. He formally retired from public service on April 29, 2007.

Assistant Sheriff Smith was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service for his command of the “Good Guys” hostage incident of 1991. He also has two Sheriff’s Letters of Commendation, two Unit Citations and several Major Incident Ribbons. He was widely respected by colleagues for his sharp mind and easy manner.

Michael Smith holds a Juris Doctorate from Lincoln Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy Session 195. Michael Smith was a National Security Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1996/1997. Michael Smith is a co-author of The Preemptive Use of Force: Analysis and Decision Making, JFK School of Government, Harvard University, National Security Discussion Paper Series, 1997.

Michael Smith is survived by wife, Deborah Storey; daughters, Tamara Smith and Tiffany Smith; and brothers, Art “Skip” Smith and Jim Smith.