Colonel Donald G. Smith Jr.

Colonel Donald G. Smith, Jr., 69, of New York, passed away on Thursday, November 21, 2024.
Born August 20, 1955 in Pittsburgh, he was a son of Donald G. Smith, Sr. & Mary L. (Walker) Smith.
Don was a 1973 graduate of Ford City High School.
After high school, he enlisted with the United States Air Force and entered basic training. After four years of active-duty service, he joined the Reserves, serving as an aeromedical technician while completing his Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from IUP. After graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant with the Air Force Reserves.
Don's span of military service began as a Vietnam era veteran, and he retried after serving in the Iraqi Freedom Campaign.
Don received many assignments over the years. From August 1973-August 1977, he served as technician with the USAF Medical Service, in Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, Utapoa Air Force Base in Thailand, and Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. From June 1979-October 1982, he served as aeromedical technician (C-130), 33, AES with the Pittsburgh IAP. From October 1982-June 1983, he served as a flight nurse (C-130) with the Pittsburgh IAP. From July 1983-April 1994, he served as a flight nurse (C-161) with the 69th AES at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey, working as an assistant coordinator for Medical Readiness, and OIC Continuing Education/Education Office. From August 1990-October 1990, he was a deployed flight nurse during Operation Desert Shield, serving with the 1611th AES in Saudi Arabia. From January 1991-April 1991, he was a deployed flight nurse during Operation Desert Storm with the same unit. From April 1991-July 1991, he was a deployed flight nurse during Operation Desert Fox with the 86th AES in Germany. From April 1994-February 1995, he served as a clinical nurse and OIC curriculum vitae officer with the 33rd APSS. From February 1995-October 1997, he served as a flight nurse, administrative officer, coordinator of career development, assistant coordinator of career development, and chief nurse assistant with the 514th AES at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. From November 1999-February 2003, he served as the IMA to the deputy director, AF Nursing Services, and USAF Surgeon General Office at Boiling Air Force Base in Marylan. From February 2003-January 2008, he served as IMA to AFRC command nurse/chief education and training at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. From May 2006-October 2006, he served as flight commander intermediate care wards, and as an ICU Nurse AFTH in Balad, Iraq. From October 2006-December 2006, he served as nursing director in the Joint Theater Trauma System in Baghdad, Iraq. From December 2008-July 2009, he served in chief clinical service for the U.S. Southern Command. From July 2009-July 2011, he served as the program manager for the RMG Det 15 Medical IMA Management at Robins AFD in Georgia. He was currently serving as the IMA to Medical Director, HQ USAF Reserve in the Reserve Medical Division at the Pentagon, a position Donald's held since February of 2008.
Don's major awards and decorations include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and six oak leaf clusters, the Combat Readiness Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with two devices, the Global War or Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two devices, the Brigadier General Beverly Lindsey Nursing Administrative Excellence Award, and the IMA Nurse of the Year in 2008.
During his time as program manager for Detachment 15 in Georgia, Don managed over 900 medical individual Reservists with a full-time staff of seven.
On Tuesday morning on 9/11/01 after working a few days at the pentagon in his Air Force reserve duty. Don flew back to New York and went right to work at NYU hospital. Where he witnessed the attacks on the twin towers. Escaping one military ground zero, to witness another ground zero attack from the uptown windows of his civilian workplace.
His effective dates of promotion included Second lieutenant on October 31, 1982, First Lieutenant of October 31, 1985, Captain on October 31, 1989, Major on October 31, 1996, Lieutenant Colonel of October 31, 2003, and Colonel of February 7, 2008.
Don's education continued beyond his Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from IUP. In 1983, he graduated from Flight Nurse School at Brooks AFB in Texas. In 1989, he completed a Battled Nursing Couse, and later obtained his Masters of Nursing Administration from New York University. In 1992, he completed the Nursing Service Management ARC course, and in 2001, obtained his PhD in nursing from New York University. In 2007, Don completed a correspondence course with the Air War College.
As a civilian, Don began his nursing career in Pittsburgh at Mercy Hospital. Around 1985, Don moved to New York City and worked at NYU Hospital as well as several other hospitals in New York. Don was the principal investigator, receiving a one-million-dollar NIH grant for a clinical trial unit on HIV positive patients at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. Don also taught several courses as a professor at the Hunter College School of Nursing.
Don later co-authored the book "A Fit, Fighting Force: The Air Force Nursing Services Chronology".
Don is survived by his spouse, Fren Dilan; sisters, Connie McGregor, Cindy (James) Solak; brother, Merle (Gretchen) Smith; niece, Jennifer (Zachary) Cogley and their children Mason & Charlotte, Dustin Dowling and his daughter Autumn, Hannah (Michael) Gingery, Austin Smith and his daughter Ella and son Everett; as well as many cousins.
At Don's request, all services are private, and have been entrusted to the Curran-Shaffer Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., Apollo.