Colonel Jim Smith enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1996 and graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada with a degree in Computer Engineering. He was privileged to command 2 Combat Engineer Regiment from 2016 to 2018. As a young officer he qualified as a combat diver and spent many years commanding Sappers at all levels in both Combat Engineer and Engineer Support Regiments. He has instructed at Canadian Army Engineer, Leadership, and Tactics Schools. Col Smith has served on staffs for the Deputy Chief of Defence, Expeditionary Forces Command, Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure & Environment), and the Canadian Army.

Col Smith has multiple deployments to Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Promoted to his current rank in 2019, he has served as Chief of Staff to 1st Canadian Division, and led the Canadian Army Land Warfare Centre. As Director of the Land Warfare Centre, he led the capability development for Canada’s next generation land combat force.

Col Smith is a licensed Professional Engineer and certified Risk Management Professional. He holds master’s degrees in both Military Art and Science and Business Administration. He is a graduate of the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College, the US Army Command and General Staff College, the US Army School of Advanced Military Studies and the Canadian Forces College Security Studies Program. Currently, he is a doctoral candidate in Business Administration focusing on Information Systems and Enterprise Resource Management with graduation anticipated in 2024.

His wife, Michelle, and their two boys, Ryan and David, are excited to explore Latvia, the Baltic region, and Europe.