Smith to Head Finance, Admin, and Support
Col. Jeffrey S. Smith, head of the Department of Economics and Business and the General Edwin Cox ’20 Institute Professor of Economics and History at Virginia Military Institute, has been named the new deputy superintendent of finance, administration, and support for the Institute. He fills the role vacated by Dallas Clark ’99, who held the responsibility for nine years before assuming the position of chief executive officer for Alumni Agencies last June.
Smith, who retired from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 2011, earned a doctorate degree in economics from the University of Tennessee, a master’s degree in economics from Wright State University, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of South Carolina. He first came to VMI in 2011 when he held the position of assistant professor while simultaneously teaching as an adjunct for the MBA program at the University of Maryland University College. Prior to that, he held positions at the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Air Force Institute of Technology, where he was named the Sigma Iota Professor of the Year in 2008. At VMI, he was presented with The Wilbur S. Hinman Jr., 1926 Research Award Arts & Humanities for excellence in stimulating, encouraging, and leading undergraduate research in 2017; and was awarded the VMI Certificate of Excellence in 2021. He has 16 peer-reviewed publications, one National Bureau of Economic Research working paper, and is author of the self-published textbook, “Business Finance – Theory, Techniques, and Tools.” He is a regular contributor to the popular finance website, Wallethub. His areas of special interest include market efficiency, exchange-traded products, alternative assets, investment, wealth, retirement, military spending, procurement, and military retirement.
As deputy superintendent for finance and support, Smith will be the chief financial and administrative officer of the Institute. He will be responsible for financial accounting and reporting, preparation and administration of the budget, operation and maintenance of the physical plant, planning and direction of capital outlay projects, procurement, the museum system, infirmary services, cadet counseling, auxiliary services, and government relations. He will report directly to Superintendent Lt. Gen. David Furness ’87. Smith will assume responsibilities of the new position full time January 1, 2027. Until then, he will fill the role part time as he finishes out the semester teaching his classes.
Smith shared he is humbled and honored to step into this new role. “VMI provides a world-class education, and we have a great team that makes this happen every day. I am excited to be given the opportunity to lead this incredible group of dedicated individuals as we facilitate the goal of educating men and women of character,” he said.
A nationwide search was conducted to identify the new deputy superintendent, with input from numerous departments on post, alumni, and the VMI Board of Visitors.
