Foil: 11 Panel: 3 Column: 3 Line: 10

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

This is a family honor, for various members who have contributed to aviation through professional and personal pursuits. My father, Col. Joseph A. Smedile, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was instrumental in building airfields world-wide, first for the Army Air Corps in Savannah and Warner Robins, GA. Later, in WWII, he and his 873rd Engineer Aviation Battalion constructed or rehabilitated airfields across the South and Southwest Pacific. Even the early launching pads of Cape Canaveral benefited from his engineering and leadership talents. A lifelong love of aviation was instilled in his family.

The next generation carried on. As his son, my career has been in commercial aviation with TWA, Vanguard Airlines and most recently in homeland security. My wife, Pam's career also has been with in commercial aviation: TWA and American Airlines. We met at TWA and some of our most treasured personal and professional memories….and friends…are because of aviation. We passed the love along.

Our oldest son, Tom, is a 2002 Air Force Academy graduate and a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He has known that this was his passion at least since grade school. Our other adult children, Jack and Cassie absorbed the love, appreciation and contributions of aviation through osmosis. In their congressional staff positions, the perspective makes more than a passing contribution. All three are "airline brats" with Jack’s wife, Stephi, benefiting from a family history at United Airlines.

America has always looked to the skies. We have all been privileged to be a small part of the heritage.