Prairie View A&M University has a long and proud tradition of military instruction dating back to 1943. Prairie View A&M is the only Historically Black College and University in the entire state of Texas that hosts an Army ROTC program.

 

It is through this program Carlton G. Smith launched his military career after receiving his commission in 1992.Ā  In recent days, the United States Army promoted Smith to the distinguished rank of Brigadier General (BG).

 

While at Prairie View, Smith studied business management, earning his Bachelor of Business Administration. Upon graduating was placed on active duty and assigned to 2-2 Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Polk, La serving as a Fire Support Officer.

 

In 1998 BG Smith joined the Texas Army National Guard and held a variety of leadership positions to include, Battery Executive Officer, Battery Commander, Battalion Executive Officer, Battalion Commander, Division G3, Regional Training Institute Commander and most recently the commander of the 56th Infrantry Brigade CombatTeam Ā During last yearā€™s devastating natural disaster, BG Smith was the Task Force Commander for the Texas Army National Guardā€™s emergency response to Hurricane Harvey.Ā He will be assigned as the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General for the Texas Army National Guard.

 

After the events of 9-11, like his father, Carlton Smith was ordered to serve his country at war. BG Smith is the son of military veteran James Edward Smith, who served in World War II. Carlton deployed on three separate occasions in support of the Global War on Terror, twice to Afghanistan in 2003 and 2006 as an Afghan Army Mentor and Military Transition Team Commander respectively and to Iraq in 2010 as the Deputy Chief of Lethal Fires.

 

BG Smithā€™s military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, the Field Artillery Captain Career Course, the Joint Operational Fires and Effects Course, Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Army Airborne School and the U.S. Army Air Assault School.

 

BG Carlton Smith has erupted a sense of pride in his Prairie View A&M University family. ā€œCarlton was my classmate and itā€™s gratifying to bear witness that Prairie View is producing productive people,ā€ shares Fred Washington, Vice President Auxiliary Services and Interim Athletic Director, in a recent PVAMU sponsored event.

As a civilian, BG Smith works as a Site Lead and Senior Principal Trainer for General Dynamics Information Technology and resides in Houston, TX with his wife, LaRachelle, who is currently Director of Marketing and Communications in the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences at Prairie View.

 

Carlton and LaRachelle met while attending a 1989 Labor Day Classic football game. While students, the two married and started their family. They have a son Major and two daughters, Andrea and Jocelyn. ā€œNeither of us could have imagined then how far we would go from those days on ā€˜The Hillā€™,ā€ expresses LaRachelle. ā€œThis is a proud moment for our family.ā€

Author: Maurice Perkins