Lt. Col. Troy M. Smith is the commander of the 717th Air Base Squadron, Ankara, Turkey. Host to the Ankara Support Facility, this multi-disciplinary squadron provides 18 support functions to a variety of Department of Defense entities, the U.S. Embassy in Turkey, and multiple other U.S. government agencies, totaling a supported population of over 1,100. Additionally, the 717th Air Base Squadron supports the entire U.S. government community to include a Department of Defense Education Activity School, Commissary, and Army and Air Force Exchange Service Base Exchange.
Lt. Col. Smith received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 2005 after graduation from the University of Portland, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. Following pilot training and initial C-130E flight training, Lt Col Smith was assigned to the 40th Airlift Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and later, the 41st Airlift Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. Lt Col Smith’s primary duties included flying the C-130E/H Hercules, and the the C-130J Super Hercules as an instructor and evaluator pilot. Prior to his current position, the lieutenant colonel was Assistant Air Attaché, US Embassy, Ankara, Turkey. In this role he was responsible for shaping U.S. policy and keeping executive branch decision-makers informed on the military and political environment in Turkey for the purpose of advancing U.S. national interests in the region.
Lt. Col. Smith has deployed multiple times in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM, flying over 500 combat sorties. He is a senior pilot with more than 2,200 flying hours in the C-12, C-130J, C-130E/H, TC-12, and T-37. Additionally, Lt Col Smith served in various roles to include executive officer, flight commander, and operations group Director of Staff.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Arts, History, University of Portland, Oregon
2005 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Master of Arts, International Relations and Conflict Management, American Military University, Charles Town, West Virginia
2015 Program on Advanced Security Studies, George C. Marshall Center, Garmisch, Germany
2017 Joint Military Attaché School, DIA, Bolling AFB, Washington D.C.
2018 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2005−July 2006, Special Projects Officer, 14th Operations Support Squadron, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi
2. July 2006−January 2007, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training Phase I and II, 41st Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, Mississippi
3. January 2007−July 2007, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training Phase III, Training Squadron 35, Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Texas
4. July 2007−May 2008, Student, C-130E Flight Training, 62nd Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas
5. May 2008−October 2012, C-130E/H/J Aircraft Commander, 40th Airlift Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
6. October 2012−December 2014, C-130J Instructor and Evaluator Pilot, 41st Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas
7. January 2016−June 2017, Student, Defense Language Institute, and Joint Military Attaché School, Washington, D.C.
8. June 2017−July 2020, C-12 Instructor Pilot and United States Assistant Air Attaché, US Embassy, Ankara, Turkey
9. July 2020-Present, Commander, 717th Air Base Squadron, Ankara, Turkey
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: senior pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,200, including more than 600 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, TC-12, C-130E/H, C-130J, and C-12
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with silver oak leaf cluster Air Force Commendation Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Iraq Campaign Medal with star
Humanitarian Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 1, 2005
First Lieutenant June 1, 2007
Captain June 1, 2009
Major October 1, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2020
(Current as of July 2020)