NEWS | March 15, 2022

Brig. Gen. Tyler B. Smith retires from the Utah Army National Guard

By Lt. Col. Jaime Thomas Utah Army National Guard

Brig. Gen. Tyler B. Smith will be honored during a retirement ceremony on Tuesday, March 15, at 2:30 p.m., at the Scott Lundell Readiness Center, Camp Williams, Utah, after 36 years of military service.

 Smith served for the past four years as the Utah National Guard assistant adjutant general-Army and relinquished command on March 13, 2022. During the change of command ceremony, Maj. Gen. Michael Turley, adjutant general, Utah National Guard, said Smith worked tirelessly to protect the training and environmental vitality of Army Garrison Camp Williams by securing water rights and protecting boundaries through the Army Compatible Use Buffer Program and the West Traverse Sentinel Landscape, in addition to his immeasurable contributions to the organization.

“There are difficult and rewarding aspects affiliated with retiring after 35 years of military service. It’s tough to lose daily association with the most exceptional men and women our nation has to offer. However, the friendships, experiences, and education I have gained are stored up and will be treasured forever,” said Smith.   

Smith enlisted in the regular Army in 1986. He attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and advanced individual training for a tank turret repairman at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD. He served in the 8th Infantry Division stationed in Manheim Germany.

After he deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in support of Operation Desert Storm, Smith returned to Utah where he joined the Utah Army National Guard and attended Officer Candidate School. He commissioned in the Engineer branch and served in the 1457th Engineer Battalion as a platoon leader and company commander. Smith has served in various assignments such as assistant operations officer in the 115th Engineer Group, range control officer of Camp Williams, assistant professor of military science (ROTC) at Utah Valley University, and deputy inspector general.

Smith deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 as the team chief of an Embedded Training Team in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. For his work as an advisor to the Afghan National Army, he was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge.

Smith commanded the Utah National Guard’s 85th Weapons of Mass Destruction–Civil Support Team located in Salt Lake City until he was selected to serve as the deputy commander of Utah Training Center–Camp Williams. In June 2014, he was appointed as the garrison commander. In July 2016, he was assigned as the construction and facilities management officer responsible for all the real property of the Utah Army National Guard. His final assignment he served as the assistant adjutant general – Army.

Smith’s notable decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with two bronze oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with one bronze oak leaf cluster), Army Achievement Medal (with bronze oak leaf cluster) and the Combat Action Badge. Notable state awards include the Utah Medal of Merit, Utah Commendation Medal, Utah Achievement Ribbon (with one bronze beehive), Utah Joint Staff Service Ribbon, UTNG Service Ribbon (with four bronze beehives), Utah Olympic Winter Games Service Ribbon and the Utah Recruiting Ribbon (with one bronze beehive).

He earned a master’s degree from Brigham Young University in Public Administration and a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Smith resides in Fountain Green, Utah with his wife, Maurnie. Together they have raised four children and currently have 13 grandchildren.

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