Cdr. USN James Michael Smyth

James Michael Smyth, Cdr. USN (Ret.)
February 12, 1931 - January 3, 2021
San Diego
James Michael Smyth, Commander, United States Navy (Ret.), passed away on January 3, 2021, at Sharp Memorial Hospital. He was 89 years old.Cdr. Smyth was born to Frank and Marcella Smyth on February 12, 1931, on a farm near Spalding, Nebraska, the oldest of five brothers and one sister. He attended grade school in a schoolhouse located on the farm. After graduation from Spalding Academy High School in May of 1947, he attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, for two years.In September 1949, he enlisted as a Naval Aviation Cadet and entered Naval flight training at Pensacola, Florida. After qualifying for landing on an aircraft carrier, he finished primary flight training and transferred to Corpus Christi, Texas, for advanced training in multi-engine aircraft. He finished flight training and received his Wings of Gold and a Commission as an Ensign in March of 1951.Following flight training, Cdr. Smyth was ordered to Navy Patrol Squadron 9 (VP-9) based at the Naval Air Station Seattle, Washington, to fly PB4Y2's, the Privateer, the Navy version of the Army Air Corps B-24 Liberator. The squadron deployed to Alaska in 1951 for anti-submarine patrol and Korea in 1952. In Korea, VP-9 flew night missions over North Korea, seeking out targets on the roads and railways. Flares were dropped over targets, which were then attacked by Marine Night Fighter Squadron VMF(N) 513.Shore duty followed in July 1953, with tours at Naval Air Station North Island, where he was an instrument flight instructor for fleet pilots; and Naval Air Stations Corpus Christi, Texas, and Hutchinson, Kansas, where he instructed students in advanced flight training. It was at Hutchinson that he met Marilyn Jo Stickney of Hoisington, Kansas. They were married in April 1955, and to the marriage were born four daughters and three sons.Following marriage, Cdr. Smyth had duty as a student at the Navy Line School at Monterey, California; as Combat Information Center (CIC) Officer on the USS Salisbury Sound (AV13), and as an Aircraft Commander flying the WV-2, the Lockheed Super Constellation, configured for Airborne Early Warning (AEW) flights. The AEW flights were flown out of Midway Island and covered the area between Midway and the Aleutian Islands. His next duty was as an instructor at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, and then back to Monterey, California, where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in June 1966.Cdr. Smyth's next sea duty was as the Staff CIC Officer for the Commander Anti-Submarine Warfare Group 3 embarked on the Carriers Hornet and Bennington in the Tonkin Gulf. In November 1968, he was transferred to the Navy Fleet Computer Programming Center on Point Loma in San Diego. He headed up the Airborne Tactical Data Systems Department, developing and implementing software for the data systems on Airborne Early Warning Aircraft. During this period, he obtained an MBA attending college classes at night and on weekends. Cdr. Smyth retired from the Navy on January 1, 1972, and went to work for the County of San Diego.Most of his time with the County was as a Project Manager for the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). He performed numerous studies for the CAO, many in the area of County Contracting for services, developing the first County Contracting Policy, which provided for County Departments to compete with the private sector for the delivery of County services. Other studies included determining the staffing requirements for the Sheriff's operation of the jails and patrol operations, coordination of the establishment of the Regional Auto Theft Task Force, and the development of the County's Deferred Compensation Plan.He was the County's Coordinator working with the City of San Diego and the San Diego Data Processing Corporation in the development and implementation of the Regional Urban Information System, now known as the San Diego Geographic Information System (SANGIS). He retired from the County in March of 1995.Cdr. Smyth is survived by his wife Marilyn, his four daughters and sons-in-law, Kathleen, Sharon Smyth and Bob Agerbeek, Susan and John Lovberg, Karen and Mike Gallivan; three sons and daughters-in-law, Patrick and Karin, Michael and Nora, and Daniel and Laura. He leaves 20 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Jerry, John, Tom, and Gene, and his sister, Mary Pat Bramblett. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Joseph.Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., at the San Diego Mission de Alcala, followed by a private burial service at the Miramar National Cemetery.