Enterprise State Community College is pleased to announce Colonel Stanley O. Smith (Ret.) as the new director of the Alabama Aviation College, based in Ozark.
Mr. Smith will oversee processes that allow students training in aviation and avionics programs at the college, in addition to new programs planned for the college, in order to ensure that the educational needs of students are successfully met. He will directly oversee program directors and the administration of student services, while also working with the area community’s business leaders and economic development committees to continually evaluate the effectiveness of the programs provided. In addition, Mr. Smith will pursue opportunities to provide workforce training.
“You build a team with outstanding people,” said Matt Rodgers, President of Enterprise State Community College.
“We are excited for our college and our community to have Col. Smith join our team. With his wealth of knowledge from his aviation experience in our nation’s Army, he is a highly respected leader and a true man of character. I am confident Col. Smith will advance our efforts at the Alabama Aviation College and continue to make our entire institution its strongest for the students, their future employers, the industries and communities we serve.”
Mr. Smith served in the U.S. Army from 1985 through September 2014 on various Army Aviation assignments. He has served as Executive Officer for an Aviation Flight Battalion and an Aviation Training Brigade, commanding hundreds of service members. He spent one year in Iraq as Chief of Staff and Aviation Advisor from June 2009 to June 2010. He is a proven, dynamic leader, advisor, and executive-level professional who has managed a broad range of programs with multi-million budgets in multi-national, aviation, and collegiate type environments.
Mr. Smith commanded the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College at Fort Rucker from October 2010 until May 2014, with staff and faculty exceeding 120. While there, Mr. Smith annually directed all activities required for the initial training, continuing professional education, and leader development of more than 3,000 warrant officers and warrant officer candidates. He designed, developed, and implemented a transformed education construct for the Army’s 26,000 warrant officers. In addition, Mr. Smith provided more than 500 hours of classroom instruction and facilitation. These programs have included Aviation Maintenance and Logistics Management, strategic planning, quantitative and qualitative analyses, and air traffic services.
Mr. Smith earned a Master of Strategic Studies at Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where he was a Distinguished Military Grad.
“I want to thank Mr. Matt Rodgers and his team for trusting me with the tremendous responsibility of serving the students, faculty, and staff of the Alabama Aviation College (AAC) and our local community. I’m excited to be part of the AAC as we expand our course offerings from Aviation Airframe and Powerplant licenses to include a Commercial Driver’s License Program this fall and an Industrial Maintenance Program starting next year,” Mr. Smith said.
“As part of the economic development of the community, we exist to train a skilled workforce ready for employment. My vision is that every student of the AAC has a job waiting on them upon graduation.”
Mr. Smith, an Enterprise resident, will start his new position on Monday, July 13th.
Cutline: Colonel Stanley O. Smith, Alabama Aviation College’s new director and ESCC President Matt Rodgers
