Bobby W. Smart is a retired member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) with 44 years of experience with U.S. and Allied military forces. Prior to his retirement in August 2015, Mr. Smart was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition Integration). In this position he directed the planning and analysis of the Air Force $229B (FYDP) Research, Development & Procurement Acquisition portfolio, and was responsible for life cycle planning and analysis of over 400 USAF research, development & modernization programs.
Mr. Smart held numerous key leadership positions during his tenure in the Senior Executive Service. He has extensive acquisition experience directing acquisition and modernization activities for Air Force Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) programs. As the Associate Director for Air Force Programs, he developed, integrated, analyzed and defended the $696B Air Force Program across the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) to meet worldwide air, space and cyberspace requirements. He also developed funding options relating to force structure, readiness, sustainability and modernization/recapitalization. While serving as the Director of Information Dominance Programs, he managed and directed the plans and programs for 68 Air Force, joint service and international information dominance programs valued at approximately $28B.
Col. Smart was assigned to theater air control system units in the Air Combat Command and U.S. Air Forces in Europe and the Pacific. He has held four command positions, commanding both tactical air control and air defense organizations. He retired from the United States Air Force in the rank of colonel in March 2002 after 30 years of active-duty service.
A native of Alabama, Mr. Smart earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration & Management and ROTC commission from the University of Alabama, and Master’s degree in National Security & Strategic Studies from the Army Command and Staff College. He graduated from the Air War College, the NATO Allied Command and Control Course (Europe), Seminar XXI at MIT, and the Defense Policy Seminar at George Washington University.
Currently, Mr. Smart is the owner and CEO of B Smart Solutions, LLC where he works with aerospace defense companies and small businesses to help guide the development of innovative aerospace capabilities.