(MURRAY, Ky.) — A decorated infantry officer who has led soldiers on multiple NATO missions in Europe will now lead the next generation of Army officers at Murray State University.
U.S. Army Cadet Command has appointed Capt. Zachary Smith as the new program director for Murray State University’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.
Smith, a native of Germantown, Ohio, brings nearly eight years of active duty experience to the role, including two deployments to Poland in support of NATO missions and command of a mechanized infantry company of approximately 180 soldiers.
“Zach brings a wealth of operational experience to our program,” said Lt. Col. Robert Hawkins, Murray State’s Professor of Military Science. “The foundation of that experience lies in the training and development of leaders in the U.S. Army. I am confident in his ability to represent our Army to our Cadets, Racer Nation and the Murray community.”
Smith was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in May 2018 after earning a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. He earned his Infantry Blue Cord at Fort Benning, Georgia, in February 2019.
His career took him first to Rose Barracks near Vilseck, Germany, where he served from 2019 to 2022 with the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment — including a six-month deployment to Poland on an Enhanced Forward Presence NATO mission and an activation in support of Operation Afghan Refuge.
Smith later returned to Fort Benning to complete the Maneuver Captains Career Course before moving to Fort Stewart, Georgia, home of the 3rd Infantry Division. There he served as a maneuver plans officer before taking command of Centurion Company, 1st Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment — a post he held for 22 months. His command included an NTC rotation, multiple live-fire exercises and a second NATO deployment to Poland.
His military education includes Airborne School, Air Assault School, the Stryker Leader Course and the Bradley Leader Course. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Expert Infantrymen Badge and the NATO Medal, among others.
The ROTC program is housed in Murray State’s Center for Adult and Regional Education, led by Executive Director Dan Lavit.
“We’re pleased to have Capt. Smith on campus as a part of the ROTC leadership cadre,” Lavit said. “His experience and expertise will help develop our ROTC cadets into the next generation of leaders entering military service from Murray State University.”
Smith is married to Walden Smith. The couple has one son, Tulson.
