Veterans Affinity Group (VAG) Black History Month: Lieutenant Colonel Evelyn G. Smith-Florence
Beginning on Monday, February 12, 2018, thru Wednesday, February 28, 2018,
(in honor of Black History Month) the HUD Veteran Affinity Group will
recognize, and Honor, the contributions of our African American female
veterans and HUD employees for their Honorable service to a grateful
Nation. In doing so, we will be sending out the biographies, including
accomplishments, and photos to our VAG Listserv, as well as to HUD
family.
Our first recognition is to Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Evelyn G.
Smith-Florence:
LIEUTENANT COLONEL (RET.) EVELYN G. SMITH-FLORENCE
SPECIALIST (E-4) EVELYN G. SMITH
Lieutenant Colonel Evelyn G. Smith-Florence, the youngest of six
siblings was raised and educated in the public-school system of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She graduated from University of Maryland,
College Park, MD with a double major in History and Psychology and
received her Masters of Science Degree in Health Care Administration
from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
Lieutenant Colonel Evelyn G. Smith-Florence joined the United States
Army in 1973 as a member of the Women’s Army Corps. As an enlisted
soldier, she served as an Operating Room Technician with various
assignments at Fort McClellan, Alabama, Fort Meade, Maryland, Fort
Campbell, Kentucky and Seoul Korea. In 1985 she received a direct
commission as an Adjutant General Officer in the United States Army. As
an Army Officer Lieutenant Colonel Smith-Florence served in various
assignments. These assignments include participation in yearly European
REFORGER from 1987 thru 1989, Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm
(Persian Gulf War, (1990-91)) and Operation Bright Star (Egypt). In
2005, Lieutenant Colonel Smith-Florence was ordered to Active Duty in
support of Iraqi Freedom. She served in support of that contingency
until 2013.
Lieutenant Colonel Smith-Florence served in the United States Army in
the Women’s Army Corps as an enlisted soldier and Commissioned Officer
in the Regular Army and Army Reserves. Lieutenant Colonel
Smith-Florence retired from military service April 2013 with 30-years of
military service.
Lieutenant Colonel Smith-Florence military education includes Medical
Corpsmen (Honor Graduate), Operating Room Technician (Honor Graduate),
Adjutant General Officer Basic Course, AMEDD Officer Basic Course,
Medical Logistics Management Course, Contract Officer Course(s),
Automated Air Load Planner System Course, Transportation Officer Advance
Course, United States Air Force Airlift Load Planner Course, Combined
Arms and Service School, Equal Opportunity Advisor Course at Defense
Equal Opportunity Management Institute, Strategic Deployment Planning
Course, Mobilization/Deployment Planning Course Joint Course
(multi-functional) on Logistics, Associate Logistics Executive
Development, HAZMAT Course, and Command General Staff College.
Lieutenant Colonel Smith-Florence’s civilian occupation is Housing
Program Policy Specialist, Office of Single Family Asset Management
Division, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD).
Lieutenant Colonel Smith-Florence military decorations include Legion of
Merit, Bronze Star, Joint Meritorious Unit Award (1st Oak Leaf Cluster),
Army Superior Unit Award, Army Commendation Medal (3rd Oak Leaf Cluster)
Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (4th Oak
Leaf Cluster) National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal
(with M Device), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Global
War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary
Medal, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (7th Oak Leaf
Cluster), Joint Chief of Staff Identification Badge, the Army Staff
Badge, Expert Field Medical Badge and Air Assault Badge.