Meet the Commandant: MAJ Jared D. Smith, Ed.D., USA (Ret.)

Valley Forge Military College (VFMC) recently announced the selection of Dr. Jared D. Smith, Major, U.S. Army (Ret.), as the College’s 39th Commandant of Cadets. 

He brings more than two decades of military service and experience in education, cadet development, military instruction, organizational leadership, and student mentorship. His career has centered on developing young people into disciplined, capable leaders prepared to serve their communities and the nation.

MAJ Smith recently sat down to talk a little about himself and what he hopes to bring to VFMC:

Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself?

A: So I was raised all throughout the state of Georgia. My background stems from the military, where I was Georgia Army National Guard, both as a traditional Guardsman and in the AGR, Active Guard Reserve program. I was also a school teacher for seventh grade and youth challenge academy campus director, amongst other positions that dealt within the education realm.

Q: What attracted you to Valley Forge?

The rich history that Valley Forge has really excited me because it’s all about being part of something larger than yourself and having that opportunity to be able to give back while also mentoring, coaching, and developing future leaders not only on the military side but in the civilian sector [as citizen leaders].

Q: What will you bring to the Corps of Cadets?

A: As the commandant of cadets, I am directly responsible for the overall professional development, spiritual development, maturity, emotion, all the things that encompass the growth of these young men and women.

Being an alumni of a military junior college, I understand what impact the Military Junior College (MJC) has and how it can possibly impact someone’s future both through time management skills, study skills along with just overall character development. So, being able to be a part of that is pretty exciting.

Q: What are you looking forward to this academic year?

A: I’m fired up about the 99th Corps of Cadets. We’re coming up on quite the year of development. Valley Forge has a very rich history since 1928, and these young men and women are going to be able to leave their mark as a 99th Corps of Cadets Whether they’re entering plebe, a returning cadet or part of the cadet leadership, every one of them is going to bring something to the table that is going to make the team unique and is gonna drive the team’s overall success. To be able to work with young men and women that are the shakers and movers of society or future society, there’s nothing more exciting or that fills my cup than to be able to have a part in that.