Tammy Smith

Tammy Smith (born c. 1963) is a Major General of the U.S. Army Reserve. She received her confirmation to Major General on July 13th, 2016 [1] and was formally promoted to the position in a ceremony at the U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan in Seoul, Korea. [2] Major General Smith is the Deputy Commanding General-Sustainment for Eighth Army [3][4]. She also became the first female general officer to serve in an Eighth Army headquarters-level position. [5][6] Prior to this position, she served as the Commanding General of the 98th Training Division (Initial Entry Training),[7] and served for a year in the Afghanistan War.

Smith is a native of Oakland, Oregon, graduating from Oakland High School. She was active in many activities but attributes her interest in both the practice and study of leadership to her participation in the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Her FFA advisor was a dynamic, enthusiastic high school agriculture teacher who taught his students both how to dream and how to set goals. He also taught his students to knuckle down and do the work required to achieve those goals. While in FFA, she participated in both prepared and extemporaneous public speaking competitions as well as maintaining various livestock projects. Smith delayed college for one year after graduating high school to serve as the State Reporter for the Oregon FFA Association. In this role she traveled the state as an FFA representative, conducting leadership camps and speaking at FFA chapters about leadership and goal setting.

Smith was recipient of a four-year Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship and graduated from the University of Oregon in 1986. She was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps. The University of Oregon has produced the highest number of General Officers of all nonmilitary ROTC schools nationwide. A total of 47 flag officers are associated with the University of Oregon. Smith is number 46 and is the first female. [1]

During her 30-year military career she has served as a Platoon Leader, 193d Support Battalion, Fort Clayton, Panama; Logistic Support Detachment Commander, Task Force 36, "Exercise Camino De La Paz, Bridges of Peace," Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica; Bravo Company Commander, 3-28th Infantry Battalion (Basic Combat Training), Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Brigade S-4, 1st Brigade (Basic Combat Training), Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Senior Supply Company Observer/Controller, Forward Support Battalion Team, Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana; Delta Company Commander, 1-321st Infantry Battalion (Basic Combat Training), Fort Jackson, South Carolina; S-1/S-4, Headquarters, Reserve Officer Training Brigade, Charlotte, North Carolina; S-3, 3-321st Infantry Battalion (Basic Combat Training), Clemson, South Carolina; Mobilization Planner, 99th Regional Readiness Command, Oakdale, Pennsylvania; Secretary to the General Staff, 99th Regional Readiness Command, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania; Readiness Staff Officer, Department of the Army G-3 (DAMO-ODR), The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.; Operations Officer, Office of the Chief, Army Reserve, Arlington, Virginia; Chief, General Officer Management Office, Office of the Chief, Army Reserve, Arlington, Virginia; Chief, Army Reserve Affairs, United States Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A), Operation Enduring Freedom. She served again as Chief, General Officer Management Office and was dual-hatted as Director, Senior Leader Development Office for the Army Reserve, The Pentagon, Washington DC. Director of Human Capital for the United States Army Reserve, The Pentagon, Washington DC. As the Director of Human Capital she was responsible for integrating strategic human resources policy with operational requirements to improve and sustain long-term personnel readiness across the United States Army Reserve. Deputy Chief of Staff, Army Reserve, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Commanding General 98th Training Division, Fort Benning, Georgia. Smith currently serves as the Deputy Commanding General-Sustainment Eighth Army, Korea.

The majority of Smith’s work history prior to assignment as the Deputy Commanding General-Sustainment Eighth Army has been as an Active Component officer and member of the Active/Guard and Reserve Program.

The Army Reserve maintains an end-strength of 205,000 soldiers; the all-volunteer Army Reserve directly supports the Army and Joint Force missions.

Smith holds a Doctor of Management degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the Delta Mu Delta International Business Honor Society. Her research focus was executive leadership and senior leader transitions into new organizations. She received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Lincoln University. She holds a Masters of Arts in Management from Webster University. She also holds a Masters in Strategic Studies as a graduate of the United States Army War College.

Smith’s awards and decorations include': Legion of Merit Medal (1 oak leaf cluster), Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medals (2 oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medals (4 oak leaf clusters), Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Combat Action Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Parachute Rigger Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge. Smith has been recently inducted into the Inaugural United States Army Reserve Officer Training Corps National Hall of Fame. [1][2][3]

Towleroad I'm Gay: The 50 Most Powerful Coming Outs of 2012

Wisconsin Gazette The Top Coming-Out Stores of 2012

Out Magazine

Knights Out Courage Award. West Point (2013)

Out & Equal Workplace Advocates Advocacy Award (2013)

More magazine's 2013 Fierce List; 50 Women Who Made Brave Stands.

Women of Color magazine's Top Women in the U.S. Armed Forces

Diversity Journal Women Worth Watching in 2015- 13th annual Celebration of Women in Leadership

National Journal The 30 Most Influential OUT Washingtonians

Trevor Project LGBT Women who Inspire the Future

Grand Marshal Washington DC Capital Pride Parade

International Jose Julio Sarria Civil Rights Award

Girl Scouts of Connecticut Women of Merit Award

American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) Life Membership

Tagg Magazine

Famous LGBT People

Time Magazine: Sally Ride Tributes to those we lost in 2012

Deloitte External Inclusion Advisory Council

Out and Equal Workplace Advocates Board of Directors- featured in the Oregon Quarterly

LGBT History Month 2016 Icon

Smith, right, and her wife, Hepner, attend the second annual Knights Out Dinner at the U.S. Military Academy

Smith married Tracey Hepner on 31 March 2012, in a ceremony at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. The ceremony was officiated by a military chaplain. The District of Columbia began recognizing same-sex marriages in 2010, but because Smith was in the Army she could not enter into a marriage until after Don't ask, don't tell was repealed. She is the first openly-gay U.S. flag officer to come out while serving since the repeal of the policy.[1][2][3]

Hepner, co-founded the Military Partners and Families Coalition, a national military family organization that provides support, education, resources and advocacy for lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender military partners and their families. On 11 February 2013, Hepner was announced as a personal guest of First Lady Michelle Obama for the 2013 State of the Union Address.

Smith and her spouse Tracey Hepner area active in volunteer military family support events.