HU Army ROTC Chair, Alumnus Promoted

HU Army ROTC Chair, Alumnus Promoted

On. Sept. 17, the Hampton University Department of Military Science held a ceremony to honor Maj. Kenneth B. Smedley, department chair and HU alumnus, who has been promoted to lieutenant colonel. Ft. Monroe Garrison Commander Col. Anthony D. Reyes ‘84 led the ceremony.

"This is a special day in his life and to ask me to be a part of this, well, I couldn't be more honored," said Reyes.

The ceremony was held outside the HU Marine Science Building.

Col. Reyes and Smedley's wife partake in the pinning ceremony.

Smedley graduated as a distinguished military graduate from HU in December 1993 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in aviation. In 1998, he served as executive officer of the Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Company in support of Operation Joint Endeavor (Bosnia-Herzegovina). In 2000, he commanded Q Troop, 4th Squadron, 3rd ACR, one of only two AH-64A Apache Troops in the Regiment. In 2003, Smedley was assigned to 1-337th Aviation, 4th Brigade (TS), in Ft. Knox, Ky., where he served as the attack team chief and battalion executive officer. In 2006, he once again served as battalion executive officer when he joined the 3rd Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade in Illesheim, Germany. In July 2008, MAJ Smedley deployed with 3-159th ARB in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-10, where he served 13 months as the battalion operations officer, split between Joint Base Balad and Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq.

Several cadets in the HU Army ROTC Pirate Batallion were present to witness their department's professor of military science advance in his career. Reyes spoke to them, pointing out all of Smedley's military accomplishments and charging them to follow suit. "Cadets, please hear what I am saying because you have in front of you a blueprint," he said.

HU military alumni stationed at Ft. Eustis, Ft. Monroe and the Pentagon also returned to their alma mater for the ceremony.

“I couldn’t be happier to be here at Hampton University to continue my career,” said Smedley following his pinning.

-Alison L. Phillips

(L to R): Retired Maj. Gen. Wallace Arnold, Norfolk State University Professor of Military Science Lt. Col. Nicholas M. Anthony Jr., Ft. Monroe Garrison Commander Col. Anthony Reyes, Lt. Col. Kenneth B. Smedley and retired Lt. Col. Claude Vann.