Biography
Dr. Dan Smith brings over 25 years of aviation knowledge, leadership, and military professional experience to UNK. In the Marines he received aviation, helicopter, and tiltrotor training and holds numerous licenses and certifications, including commercial pilot, certified flight instructor, and ground instructor. Within the Marines he rose to Major and served as an air controller, safety mishap investigator, aviation planner, squadron logistics officer, aircraft maintenance, and aviation acquisition. Deployment includes Afghanistan, South Korea, Kuwait, Iraq, and the Mediterranean Sea with operations in Europe and Kosovo. Major Smith has received numerous decorations including the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device “V”, and the Air Medal with Eleven Strike Flight award. As a civilian he worked at Clarion University as Director of Budgets and Academic planning, taught in the Department of Management and Marketing, and opened the Clarion University Veteran Service Office to serve student veterans of Clarion and Venango.
Education
Ed.D., Leadership and Management, Drexel University
M.S., Education, Saint Joseph’s University
M.S., Management, Naval Postgraduate School
B.S., History, United States Naval Academy
Standard of excellence
Taking care of business
