Dr. Louis “Wes” Smith

Dr. Smith is the Associate Director of the Army Credentialing and Continuing Education Services for Soldiers (ACCESS) Directorate, Army University, Fort Knox, Kentucky. Wes is a native of Chesapeake, Virginia. He has a Doctor of Education Degree and Education Specialist Degree from The George Washington University, Master of Science Degree in Education from Old Dominion University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Fayetteville State University. 

Dr. Smith served in the Army for 20 years from 1983-2003 where he was introduced to the Army’s learning enterprise as an instructor and middle manager. After his active duty service, he worked in the North Carolina K-12 public school system from 2003-2010. Wes was a teacher for 2 years and a secondary school administrator for 6 years. He culminated 8  years in public K-12 education as the Founding School Principal of the JP Knapp Early College High School in Currituck, North Carolina.  Wes was recognized by the North Carolina New Schools Project as an outstanding school leader.  From 2009 to 2022, Wes was an adjunct professor of school administration, human resource management, and leadership at the George Washington University, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University where hetaught future K-12  school leaders and human resource managers.

Dr. Smith became a federal employee in 2010. He has served in the Department of the Army (DA), Depart-ment of Homeland Security (DHS) and Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)/Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) HQs. His positions included Chief of Individual Training, Chief of Quality As-surance (QA) Element, Chief of Staff and Faculty, Army University Faculty and Staff Development Office Team Lead, TRADOC QA Office Accreditation Evaluator, Training Manager at Coast Guard HQs (DHS), Professional Development Coordinator at OSD/DODEA HQs, and Chief of Cadre, Faculty, and Staff Development at the US Army Cadet Command Headquarters. Prior to assuming the Associate Director position at ACCESS, Wes was the Dean, Chief Academic Officer at the Army Recruiting and Retention College.    

Dr. Smith is a graduate of the Air War College Distance Education Program through Air University, the Ci-vilian Education System Advanced Leader Course and Continued Education for Senior Leaders Course, and many education and training facilitator, developer, and evaluator courses.  

Wes is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Military Learning. He has authored and published articles relat-ed to the field of education in professional journals and was recognized by the University Council for Edu-cational Administration as the William J. Davis Award winner for the Most Outstanding Article in 2011—School Leadership Policy Trends and Development: Policy Expediency or Policy Excellence? He recently co-authored an article in the Journal of Military Learning -The Intersection of Leadership and Emotions: Lessons and Actions Leading to Change. 

Dr. Smith is married to Ms. Lynnette L. Smith and has two adult-age children, Dr. Morgan B. Frazer and Mr. Markus J. Smith.