W. Thomas Smith Jr. is a military technical consultant, writer, editor, media relations professional and special deputy with South Carolina’s Richland County Sheriff’s Department. His work has appeared in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, GEORGE magazine, The New York Post, Business Week, Investor’s Business Daily, Marine Corps Times, Police1, S.W.A.T. magazine, Police magazine, Black Belt magazine, Association of the U.S. Army magazine, American Legion, and many others. He is also a military technical consultant for films airing on The Military Channel and E! Entertainment Television.
A formerly deployed U.S. Marine rifle-squad (Infantry) leader, a nuclear security and counterterrorism instructor, and a tactical (SWAT) team officer in the nuclear industry, Smith is a retired colonel (O-6) in the S.C. Military Department where he founded and directed the department’s first-ever counterterrorism task force.
Smith is an author; columnist; New York Times bestselling editor; founding partner of National Defense Consultants LLC; former adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina (his alma mater, BA History, 1982); and he serves on the executive leadership team of the National Security Task Force, South Carolina Floodwater Commission.
A veteran war correspondent, Smith has traveled to and covered conflict across the Balkans and throughout the Middle East.
As a speechwriter, Smith has composed speeches and written other prepared remarks for state legislators, flag and general-officers, Medal of Honor recipients, and members of Congress. (His prepared remarks having been delivered on the floor of the U.S. Congress.)
Smith has been awarded multiple times for counterterrorism activities and honored on four separate occasions by four different recipients of the Medal of Honor. Aside from military decorations and other military and civilian awards, Smith is a recipient of two South Carolina Senate commendations; a U.S. Army North commendation; an Ironman award; an Honorary Black Belt; the Order of Saint Maurice (Centurion level), a national infantry award; and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s 2018 Civilian of the Year award. He’s also a recipient of the Palmetto Patriot Award, the highest award presented by the South Carolina lieutenant governor; and the Order of the Palmetto, the highest honor awarded by the State of South Carolina and presented by the governor.