Harold P. Smith, Jr.

The Honorable Harold P. Smith, Jr., Ph.D., is a Member of the Board of Regents of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies.

"Dr. Harold Smith joined the faculty of the University of California at Berkeley in 1960 after receiving a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from MIT. In 1966, Dr. Smith was awarded a White House Fellowship and was assigned as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense. Since that time, he has served as an advisor to various governmental boards on national security policy, giving particular attention to projects requiring a broad range of technical and managerial skills. Of particular note are his chairmanship of the Vulnerability Task Force of the Defense Science Board (DSB) and a special study for the Secretary of Defense on the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS); i.e. the Smith Report.

"He retired from the faculty in 1976 in order to pursue a career in managerial consulting and entrepreneurial ventures. The Palmer Smith Corporation, a consulting firm specializing in management of high technology programs, was established and retained by defense contractors. At the request of Dr. William Perry, Dr. Smith accepted an appointment with the William Jefferson Clinton Administration as Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy with responsibilities for reduction and maintenance of the American and NATO arsenals of nuclear weapons, destruction of the chemical weapon stockpile, oversight of the chemical and biological defense programs, management of counter-proliferation acquisition, and management of all treaties related to conventional and/or strategic weapons.

"Dr. Smith is a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) and has thrice received the highest honor granted by the Department of Defense for public service, the Distinguished Public Service Award (with Silver Palm), as well as the Exceptional Civilian Service Award of the Air Force and the Commendation of the Secretary of the Navy. He has been decorated by the Republic of France as a Commander in the Legion of Honor."[1]