MADISON – Larry Smith retired as Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3) in 2002 after joining the U.S. Army in 1981.

At Fort Bliss, Texas, Smith completed Basic Training and then finished Improved HAWK Firing Section Mechanics Course in 1982. He was assigned to a HAWK battery in Regensburg, Germany in 1982 and then assigned to a HAWK battery in Fort Lewis, Wash. in 1985.

Smith served with a HAWK battalion in Spangdahlem and Bitburg, Germany in 1986. He attended Warrant Officer Candidate School at Fort Rucker and completed HAWK Missile Systems Technician Course at Fort Bliss.

In 1991, Smith returned to Germany, this time to Neubrucke with a HAWK Battery. He then was assigned with a PATRIOT Battery in Fort Bliss and completed PATRIOT Missile Systems Technician Course there.

In 1994, Smith deployed with a PATRIOT Battery in Kunsan, South Korea. He returned to Fort Bliss with a PATRIOT Battalion.

In 1999, he was assigned to USA/DEU/RNL Headquarters, Extended Air Defense Task Force (EADTF) in Siegen, Germany. Smith retired from the Army in 2002 and settled in Huntsville.

“Our family moved to Madison in July 2002. My job while assigned to HQ EADTF required extensive collaboration with organizations on Redstone Arsenal (USASMDC, PEO MS),” Smith said. During extensive visits here, Smith became familiar with the community and the people.

Madison reminds him of his hometown — Manassas, Va. “before DC metro encroached on the city. We selected Madison because of the ‘small town’ feel, wonderful people and exceptional public schools,” Smith said.

During full-time Army service, he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Park University and a master’s degree in business administration from Cameron University. Smith works for Oasis Systems LLC, managing operations and business development in the Huntsville market.

His wife Monica is a homemaker. Their son Joshua, 29, works as a K-9 Officer with Huntsville Police Department and lives in Hazel Green with wife Jessica. James, 24, of Madison is a Calhoun Community College student. Rachael, 18, is a freshman majoring in nursing at University of South Alabama.

Since 2002, Smith has been a member of Rotary Club of Madison. He has participated many years with Association of the United States Army, National Defense Industrial Association and prison ministry at Limestone Correctional Facility.

His hobbies are martial arts and outdoor recreation.