ALL PHOTOS BY HAI/DAN SWEET


Jeff Smith Giving Back


New HAI chair will expand association’s global reach, voice. By Paul Koscak


Y


OU COULD SAY TOM CRUISE SENT JEFFERY Smith on a 36-year aviation journey. In 1986, Jeff, who will become the 2022–23


chair of HAI’s Board of Directors on Jul. 1, was like most high school seniors, wondering what


to do with his life. After seeing Top Gun that year, Jeff was sold. “I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” he recalls about the movie starring Cruise as a young naval aviator. Jeff visited a US Navy recruiter to pursue his career choice, but his spirit fizzled when he learned he needed a four-year college degree to fly jets. At the time, college wasn’t feasible for Jeff, but the recruiter referred him to the Army instead. Tat service branch was accepting nondegreed applicants to fly helicopters under its “From High School to Flight School” program. Te Army had already been a way of life for Jeff; his father,


a Korean War veteran, had spent 28 years in the service. Along the way, the younger Smith had ample time to learn about Army aircraft. “My favorite was the Cobra,” he remembers. He applied to become an Army helicopter pilot and was accepted even before graduating high school, through the delayed- enlistment plan.


Early Career Years As an Army pilot for 10 years, Jeff flew the OH-58 Kiowa and UH-1V Huey during assignments in North and South America, Europe, and the Middle East. During his military career, he flew attack, air cavalry, general support, and air ambulance missions and served as an instructor, safety officer, and oper- ations officer. As in many careers, there are mentors who coach colleagues over workplace hurdles. So, too, in the military. Jeff credits his commander for the guidance he provided in helping Jeff balance work and family responsibilities while Jeff was in the Army. “I was very young and had already started a family with two


adopted boys, so I was dealing with a lot of home issues,” he recalls. “[My commander] helped me through that, and I give him credit for guiding me toward becoming an officer.” Upon leaving active duty in 1997, Jeff took a job with Liberty


Helicopters conducting sightseeing tours in the New York City metropolitan area. He soon became a Part 135 captain flying a range of helicopters: the 206L-1, AS350B and B1–3, AS355, AS365, EC120, and EC130. He went on to become the assistant chief pilot, as well as heliport manager and safety officer, at Liberty—all in just four years.


JUNE 2022 ROTOR 29


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