An RFA commodore has received a top service award from the Princess Royal.
The award is bestowed on individuals with a minimum of 20 years’ service who show exceptional devotion to duty, exemplary service and act as an outstanding example to others.
Cdre Smith, who joined the RFA in 1980, has seen sea-going service in the Falklands, Gulf and the former Yugoslavia.
The marine engineer was subsequently appointed as the RFA Recruitment and Training Officer.
From 2016 until 2019 he was re-appointed as CSO (E) incorporating the role of Head of RFA Marine Engineering and later became the RFA's Operational Support Manager and Chief Technical Superintendent in DE & S.
Promoted to Commodore 2019, he is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology and a member of the Professional and Educational Affairs Committee and Naval Service Special Interest Group of that organisation.
He is active in the university lecturing scene and promotes engineering as a career to schools, colleges and universities through his committee work with IMarEST and The Royal Academy of Engineering.
