Captain Richard Smith is an Research Analyst in the Office of Labor and Economic Analysis (OLEA). This position is located within the Dean of Faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. OLEA applies labor and economic analysis to inform Department of the Air Force leaders on personnel policy and programs across the talent management system to attract, employ, and retain talented Air and Space professionals.

Captain Smith enlisted in the Air Force in 2011 and was commissioned through Officer Training School (OTS) in 2019. He completed the Air Force Initial Force Support Officer Training Course (IFSOC) in 2020, followed by a Special Experience Exchange Duty (SPEED) in the Analyst Force Support Exchange Program (AFSEP), as an Operations Research Analyst (15A). Prior to his current role, he was an Artificial Intelligence Lead Analyst at the Studies and Analysis Squadron, Air Education and Training Command in Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.

During his time as an operations research analyst, Captain Smith led a 14-member team in applying advanced statistical techniques executing relevant, responsive, and rigorous analyses across 24 mission areas. Captain Smith earned a Master of Science in Applied Business Analytics from the American Military University. When not in the office conducting labor economic research studies, Captain Smith can usually be found spending time with his wife, three children and dog, hiking, camping, or running.

Graduate Certificate, Global Management, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (2024)

Graduate Certificate, Operations Research, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (2022)

Master of Science, Applied Business Analytics, American Military University, Charles Town, West Virginia (2021)

Thesis: “Applying logistical regression to video games sales over the past 40 years”

Bachelor of Science, Management Information Systems, American Military University, Charles Town, West Virginia (2018)

Associate of Arts and Sciences, Human Resource Management, Community College of the Air Force, Montogomery, Alabama (2017)

Research Analyst, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado (Jul 2024 – present)

Artificial Intelligence Lead Analyst, Air Education and Training Command, Directorate for Analysis and Assessments, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas (Feb 2024 – Jun 2024)

Office in Charge, Manpower Analysis, Studies and Analysis Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas (Sep 2019 – Jan 2024)

Mission Support Flight Commander and Commanders Support Staff Section Commander, 351st Special Warfare Training Squadron, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico (Sep 2019 – Aug 2021)

Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, General Officer Support, Air Force General Officer Management Office, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. (Jun 2017 – Sep 2019)

Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Customer Support, 96th Force Support Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida (Oct 2016 – Jun 2017)

Deliberate Crisis Action and Planning Execution System Operator, 455th Force Support Squadron, Bagram, Afghanistan (Mar 2016 – Oct 2016)

Career Development Supervisor, 96th Force Support Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida (Aug 2014 – Mar 2016)

Executive Support Journeyman, 96th Force Support Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida (Oct 2013 – Aug 2014)

Evaluations Apprentice, 96th Force Support Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida (Sep 2012 – Oct 2013)

Student, Various Locations, (Nov 2011 – Sep 2012)

Academic

Graduate with Honors, American Military University (2018)

Military

Air and Space Commendation Medal (2016, 2019, 2021, 2024)

Air and Space Achievement Medal (2016, 2023)

Labor Economics

Artificial Intelligence

Military Manpower