Smith worked for the United States Air Force preforming maintenance on Convair RB-36 bombers, serving as crew chief mechanic of army helicopters, and the installing of Atlas “F” and Titan II intercontinental ballistic missiles. He earned an Airframe and Power Plant certificate, and a Federal Aviation Administration Examiner certification. In 1967, Smith introduced Aviation Maintenance instruction to the Salina Area Vocational Technical School, where he was selected as the outstanding faculty member by his students.