Wayne Smith looks over a scrapbook containing photos from much of his 53-year career in military service. The Headquarters Air Education and Training Command plans program manager is scheduled to retire today.
From the Randolph AFB Wingspread,
May 25, 2001
By Ralph Monson, 12th FTW Public Affairs

Wayne L. Smith

Originally from Tuscola, IL-
Korean War Veteran of the United States Air Force

""I had always been interested in flight and space," said Mr. Smith. "When I was a teenager I spent a lot of time hanging around the airport in Tuscola, Ill.  I got to fly a little with some friends"."

- Wayne L. Smith

By Wayne Smith

Before the Air Force became a separate service, Wayne Smith began chasing his dreams. Five decades later, this "Wayne’s World" has turned out to be an excellent Air Force adventure.

Mr. Smith, a program manager in the Headquarters Air Education and Training Command plans directorate, will put the finishing touches on a "varied" 53-year career in federal service with a retirement ceremony today.

Gen. Hal Hornburg, AETC commander, will preside over the ceremony.

"I had always been interested in flight and space," said Mr. Smith. "When I was a teenager I spent a lot of time hanging around the airport in Tuscola, Ill.  I got to fly a little with some friends".

His interest in aviation led Mr. Smith, who had already spent three years in the Illinois National Guard, to enlist in the Air Force in 1950.

"I spent the first two years as a radar mechanic, airborne equipment technician and survival instructor," he explained. "In 1952 I was accepted as an aviation cadet. After graduation from cadets, I went through aerial gunnery school in the F-80 and F-84 at Williams Air Force Base and Luke AFB Arizona".

Mr. Smith earned his wings at James Connally AFB, Texas and then became an instructor pilot in the T-28

and T-33 at Webb AFB, Texas and Craig AFB, Ala. "I really enjoyed being an instructor. I loved taking a jet and going cross-country with a student," he said.

During his duty at Craig, Mr. Smith was recognized as the outstanding instructor pilot and earned a weeklong trip to Williams for a chance to attend the Air Force’s early version of Red Flag.

"I got to break the sound barrier," recalled Smith. "That was a pretty big deal back then. It was surprisingly uneventful though—just a slight buffeting of the aircraft as it broke the barrier".

His dream of flying achieved, Mr. Smith made another career course correction.

"The space race was on," said Mr. Smith about his decision to become a missile officer in 1959. "I thought missiles were the emerging career field".

Mr. Smith, now a captain, was assigned to Bitburg Air Base, Germany in charge of maintenance and configuration management for 60 Matador tactical ground launch missiles and 30 Mace missiles.

"I thought this is what the Air Force is all about. Standing alert, being ready to go 24 hours a day. We were just 30 minutes flying time from the Warsaw Pact forces," said Mr. Smith.

If he had any doubt about the unit’s proximity to the "enemy," that vanished during a missile door malfunction at a remote Mace silo, "The missile bays were covered by 40-ton doors," explained Mr. Smith. "The hydraulics failed and the door was temporarily stuck open. We were out in the middle of nowhere but within 30 minutes I saw what I’m sure was a reconnaissance plane circling and taking pictures on the site".

Mr. Smith didn’t know it at the time, but a vacation trip to Paris offered a preview of the missile officer’s next career move.

"I remember standing on the Eiffel Tower and listening to John Glen become the first American to orbit the Earth in Friendship 7," said Mr. Smith. "A few month’s later I was a flight commander and controller for the tactical test launch pad at Cape Kennedy".

While at Cape Kennedy (now renamed Cape Canaveral). Mr. Smith witnessed Atlas and Titan launches from his control center. He was there for the successful test of the Titan II rocket, which propelled the Gemini space program.

Mr. Smith also witnessed the introduction of the Minuteman I as a missile combat crew commander at F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo. He launched two Minuteman test missiles at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. during his four-year tour.

In 1970, Mr. Smith military career made another course correction—this time into resource and program management. "I had a friend at Randolph who needed help with the F-11 maintenance training program," he said.

Mr. Smith retired from active duty in 1974. He entered civil service in 1975 and for the next 26 years, would continue to be a key player in a variety high profile command programs. He was instrumental in the programming, design and construction of training facilities and field training detachments around the world.

"Developing the training facilities for the F-15’s in Saudi Arabia, and the F-16’s in Egypt and Venezuela were some amazing projects," said Mr. Smith.

Since 1999, Mr. Smith has headed the upgrade program for the Airborne Warning and Control System modeling and simulation training system.

"It’s unusual for Air Force Material Command to turn over program management of an acquisition project such as this to another command," said Mr. Smith about the AWACS programs. "We were confident we could do it better and faster than anyone else".

AETC plans officials said the new AWACS training was implemented at Tyndall AFB, Fla. in April and provides significant improvements for qualification training. It provides a single system for training both airborne weapons directors and air battle managers.

Lt. Col. B. J. McMenamin, chief of AETC’s technical training requirements branch, noted. "Mr. Smith has done a tremendous job as program manager of the AWAC Training System upgrade. This directly managed AETC acquisition program was a superlative effort by a team drawn from all levels-Headquarters AETC Plans & Programs and Operations Directorates. Headquarters Air Force Personnel Center, 19th Air Force and the 325th Training Squadron at Tyndall AFB-as well as elements of Air Combat Command.

"All future USAF Air Battle Managers and Weapons Directors, as well as allied countries that train with this system at Tyndall, will benefit from the training enhancements Mr. Smith’s leadership made possible".

Reflecting on his 53-year career, Mr. Smith points to the explosion in communication technology as the biggest change in the Air Force.

"There is so much information available," said the certified manager. "It is a good thing because we work issues very quickly. Back in the 1970’s it would take a couple of weeks to exchange correspondence on a project. Now we do it in minutes".

As Mr. Smith prepares for his last course correction, he said he is sure he will miss the camaraderie he has known for three-quarters of his life. "I’ve had a great time and got to do many things. I’ll miss most of it".

One thing Mr. Smith said he would not miss is the massive amount of travel he has logged the past three decades. "I’m sure I’m among the command’s all-time leaders in miles flown on airlines. I’m ready to spend some time with my wife, Simmie, and give back some of the incredible support she has given me".