Capt. Zachary Smith named as new Murray State University ROTC program director

MURRAY, Ky. — U.S. Army Cadet Command has named Capt. Zachary Smith as the new program director for Murray State University’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

Smith is a native of Germantown, Ohio. He was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army in May 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.

He attended the Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course (IBOLC) at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he earned his Infantry Blue Cord in February 2019. His military education includes IBOLC, Maneuver Captains Career Course (MCCC), Stryker Leader Course, Bradley Leader Course, Airborne School and The Sabaulaski Air Assault School.

Smith’s first assignment was in Rose Barracks, just outside of Vilseck, Germany, from 2019-2022. He served as a Rifle Platoon Leader in Lightning Troop for 10 months, Executive Officer of Kronos Troop for 12 months while in 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment. During his time, Smith deployed to the Bemowo Piskie Training Area (BPTA) in Poland for six months on the Enhanced Forward Presence North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mission. He was also activated in support of Operation Afghan Refuge.

From Germany, Smith and his family moved back to Fort Benning to attend MCCC. Upon completing MCCC and Bradley Leaders Course, he moved to Fort Stewart, Georgia, home of the 3rd Infantry Division, from 2023-2026, where he served as the maneuver plans officer on brigade staff for seven months before he moved into Company Command. During that time, Smith was responsible for the planning for multiple battalions to train at a National Training Center (NTC). Smith then took command of a mechanized infantry company, Centurion Company, 1st Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, which was composed of approximately 180 soldiers. He commanded Centurion Company for 22 months which spanned many training exercises, an NTC rotation, multiple company-size live fires and deployment of BPTA Poland on the Forward Land Forces NATO mission.

Smith’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal—1 Oak Leaf Cluster (1OLC), signifying that he has earned the medal twice—National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal (1OLC), Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Expert Infantrymen Badge, Air Assault Badge and Airborne Badge.

Smith is married to Walden Smith, and they have one son, Tulson.

The ROTC is housed in the Center for Adult and Regional Education under the leadership of Executive Director Dan Lavit.

"We're pleased to have Capt. Smith on campus as a part of the ROTC leadership cadre,” Lavit said. “His experience and expertise will help develop our ROTC cadets into the next generation of leaders entering military service from Murray State University."

Murray State Professor of Military Science Lt. Col. Robert Hawkins added, "Zach brings a wealth of operational experience to our program. The foundation of that experience lies in the training and development of leaders in the U.S. Army. I am confident in his ability to represent our Army to our Cadets, Racer Nation and the Murray community."