FMPC Leadership

COLONEL JAMES P. SMITH (JP),
DIRECTOR,
U.S. ARMY FORCE MODERNIZATION PROPONENT CENTER

COL JP Smith assumed his current responsibilities as Director, Force Modernization Proponent Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in August 2021. Prior to that he was the Deputy of the Joint Fires and Influence Branch at HQs Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) in Gloucester, United Kingdom. Serving at the ARRC, COL Smith directed the communication strategy to present the ARRC as the first warfighting corps to support NATO since the end of the Cold War. Before that assignment, COL Smith served as the CJ39 at Combined Forces Command/ U.S. Forces Korea, working side by side with our Republic of Korea allies to place permanent pressure on North Korea to come to the negotiating table and de-nuclearize the peninsula.

COL Smith’s other assignments include G7 25th Infantry Division, SOJ39 Special Operations Command Europe, Bronco 71 Observer, Coach, and Mentor at the National Training Center. He also served as Brigade S7 at 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, deploying to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and deploying to Iraq for 15 months.

COL Smith is a graduate of the Naval War College, holds a Masters Degree in National Security Policy and Strategy, a Master of Science in International Relations from Troy State University and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Georgia College and State University.

COL Smith is married and has three children, a granddaughter, and an English Bulldog named Jolene.