08/28/2026
We are so excited to introduce our keynote speaker for Dreamin’ for Darby: A Fundraiser for Darby Schools on August 29..
⭐️Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Mark Smith, PhD, Darby Schools Alumnus⭐️
Mark Smith is the middle child of Ron (dec.) and Peggy Smith, of Darby. He graduated as a 12-year student of Darby schools, graduating in 1981. His older brother Ron, Jr. (1980) and younger sister, Marie (1983), are also graduates from Darby.
He attended Oregon State on an Army ROTC scholarship and graduated in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science while working for the Forest Service during the summers.
In 1989 he obtained a master’s degree in wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin Madison. From 1990-1994 he served his 4-year active-duty commitment in the Army, then returned to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to pursue a PhD.
In 1999 he returned to active duty in the Army, completed his PhD in 2001 in Wildlife Ecology and Zoology and continued on active duty as an air defense officer, traveling over 36 countries, and working in various assignments to include NATO.
He then continued on a 12-year assignment as an Academy Professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point, teaching cadets Ecology and Environmental Science. He retired from the Army in 2017 as a Lieutenant Colonel after 22 years on active duty. He now works in the building science field, focused on helping achieve energy efficient buildings.
He is married to Laura Aguirre Smith, where they live in her hometown of El Paso TX during most of the year and in his hometown of Darby during the summer.
We look forward to hearing how Darby School District helped prepare him for what has been an incredibly successful career!
