Full Name
Mr. Jimmy Smith, SES
Job Title
Director, Office of Small Business Programs
Company
U.S. Department of the Navy
Speaker Bio
Mr. Jimmy D. Smith assumed the responsibilities of the Director for Small Business Program in June of 2019. He serves as the chief advisor to the Secretary on all small business matters. Mr. Smith has been charged with overseeing small business acquisition policy; strengthening government and private sector partnerships; and fostering opportunities to leverage small businesses as strategic advantage for the benefit of our warfighters.
In March 2017, Mr. Smith served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Expeditionary Programs & Logistics Management. He served as the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition on matters related to the Navy’s Expeditionary Force, delivering upon urgent warfighter needs, and overseeing acquisition logistics policy.
In 2013, Mr. Smith served as the Director for Integrated Nuclear Weapons Safety and Security within the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs. In this capacity, he was charged with the safekeeping of nearly 70% of this Nation’s nuclear arsenal. He executed the Director of Strategic Systems Programs technical authority by providing nuclear safety and security policies and direction to more than 4,500 government and industry personnel. He also oversaw the U.S. Navy’s nuclear weapon inspection and nuclear personnel readiness program. During his tenure, Mr. Smith delivered the U.S. Navy’s first and only underground nuclear weapon production and storage facility and awarded the first life cycle support contract for the nuclear weapon safety and security program.
Prior to the above mentioned assignment, starting in 2010, Mr. Smith served as the Director for the Above Water Sensors Directorate within the Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems. There he led efforts focused on planning, developing, acquiring, testing, and sustaining cost effective warfare systems for U.S. Navy surface ships and submarines. Those systems include: the AEGIS combat system; a full-spectrum of shipboard sensors including sonar, radar, and electronic warfare systems; missiles; guns; ammunition; and countermeasures. In addition, Mr. Smith served as the Chief Technology Officer and oversaw the transition of new naval capabilities and technologies into more than 150 Programs of Record. In a collateral capacity, he served as the lead for the Naval Sea Systems Command’s Student Engagement and Outreach Program. Those efforts focused on promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) for grade school students and furthering academic pursuits of college students through scholarships and student employment opportunities.
Mr. Smith was selected for Senior Executive Service in March 2010, after 19 years of federal service.
Prior to his senior executive-level selection, Mr. Smith served as the Deputy Executive Director for Undersea Technology. He was responsible for transitioning numerous science and technology projects and initiatives from industry, academia, the Office of Naval Research, and the Defense Applied Research Projects Agency into submarine acquisition programs for current-day and future operational use. In a collateral capacity to this role, he served as both the Deputy Program Manager and Research & Development Manager for the COLUMBIA Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program. There he developed the program’s initial research and development plan, long range budget, and the acquisition strategy.
In 2005, he served as the Director for Submarines and Strategic Systems Programs, in a dual capacity, on the Secretary of the Navy’s staff.
In years prior, Mr. Smith held several technical and managerial positions within the Naval Sea Systems Command and the Program Executive Office for Submarines with distinction. Most notably, while serving as the Construction Manager for the first seven submarines of the VIRGINIA Class, Mr. Smith led all submarine construction and acceptance testing efforts. Achievements included the satisfactory completion of the first submarine’s construction phase, four highly successful at-sea tests were conducted, and in October 2004 the first submarine of the class - USS VIRGINIA (SSN 774) - was delivered to the U.S. Navy under Mr. Smith’s leadership.
Mr. Smith received a bachelor’s of science degree in mechanical engineering, in 1990, from Tuskegee University. Graduate-level studies included Environmental Engineering, Marine Engineering, and Business Management. He also possesses four executive leadership certificates from the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations and two other business-related certificates from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill--Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Awards include: Two Navy Superior Civilian Service Awards, Two Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Awards, the 2016 Black Engineer of the Year Award - “Stars and Stripes Award Winner”, and the Blacks-In-Government Department of Defense Civilian Meritorious Service Award.
Other achievements include: Department of Defense David Packard Acquisition Excellence Award and thirty-two other awards and recognitions for outstanding performance and leadership over his esteem career.
Along with being a member of the Department of Defense Acquisition Professional Community, Mr. Smith possesses three Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Level III certifications. Those certifications are held in the areas of Program Management, Test & Evaluation, and System Planning, Research Development & Engineering.
In March 2017, Mr. Smith served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Expeditionary Programs & Logistics Management. He served as the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition on matters related to the Navy’s Expeditionary Force, delivering upon urgent warfighter needs, and overseeing acquisition logistics policy.
In 2013, Mr. Smith served as the Director for Integrated Nuclear Weapons Safety and Security within the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs. In this capacity, he was charged with the safekeeping of nearly 70% of this Nation’s nuclear arsenal. He executed the Director of Strategic Systems Programs technical authority by providing nuclear safety and security policies and direction to more than 4,500 government and industry personnel. He also oversaw the U.S. Navy’s nuclear weapon inspection and nuclear personnel readiness program. During his tenure, Mr. Smith delivered the U.S. Navy’s first and only underground nuclear weapon production and storage facility and awarded the first life cycle support contract for the nuclear weapon safety and security program.
Prior to the above mentioned assignment, starting in 2010, Mr. Smith served as the Director for the Above Water Sensors Directorate within the Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems. There he led efforts focused on planning, developing, acquiring, testing, and sustaining cost effective warfare systems for U.S. Navy surface ships and submarines. Those systems include: the AEGIS combat system; a full-spectrum of shipboard sensors including sonar, radar, and electronic warfare systems; missiles; guns; ammunition; and countermeasures. In addition, Mr. Smith served as the Chief Technology Officer and oversaw the transition of new naval capabilities and technologies into more than 150 Programs of Record. In a collateral capacity, he served as the lead for the Naval Sea Systems Command’s Student Engagement and Outreach Program. Those efforts focused on promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) for grade school students and furthering academic pursuits of college students through scholarships and student employment opportunities.
Mr. Smith was selected for Senior Executive Service in March 2010, after 19 years of federal service.
Prior to his senior executive-level selection, Mr. Smith served as the Deputy Executive Director for Undersea Technology. He was responsible for transitioning numerous science and technology projects and initiatives from industry, academia, the Office of Naval Research, and the Defense Applied Research Projects Agency into submarine acquisition programs for current-day and future operational use. In a collateral capacity to this role, he served as both the Deputy Program Manager and Research & Development Manager for the COLUMBIA Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program. There he developed the program’s initial research and development plan, long range budget, and the acquisition strategy.
In 2005, he served as the Director for Submarines and Strategic Systems Programs, in a dual capacity, on the Secretary of the Navy’s staff.
In years prior, Mr. Smith held several technical and managerial positions within the Naval Sea Systems Command and the Program Executive Office for Submarines with distinction. Most notably, while serving as the Construction Manager for the first seven submarines of the VIRGINIA Class, Mr. Smith led all submarine construction and acceptance testing efforts. Achievements included the satisfactory completion of the first submarine’s construction phase, four highly successful at-sea tests were conducted, and in October 2004 the first submarine of the class - USS VIRGINIA (SSN 774) - was delivered to the U.S. Navy under Mr. Smith’s leadership.
Mr. Smith received a bachelor’s of science degree in mechanical engineering, in 1990, from Tuskegee University. Graduate-level studies included Environmental Engineering, Marine Engineering, and Business Management. He also possesses four executive leadership certificates from the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations and two other business-related certificates from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill--Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Awards include: Two Navy Superior Civilian Service Awards, Two Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Awards, the 2016 Black Engineer of the Year Award - “Stars and Stripes Award Winner”, and the Blacks-In-Government Department of Defense Civilian Meritorious Service Award.
Other achievements include: Department of Defense David Packard Acquisition Excellence Award and thirty-two other awards and recognitions for outstanding performance and leadership over his esteem career.
Along with being a member of the Department of Defense Acquisition Professional Community, Mr. Smith possesses three Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Level III certifications. Those certifications are held in the areas of Program Management, Test & Evaluation, and System Planning, Research Development & Engineering.
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