Rodric Smith

Dr Rodric Smith is a consulting faculty member at KS Insight and brings over two decades of experience in academic leadership, program development, and experiential leadership development education.

A retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Rod spent 24 years in the Air Force - 12 years in nuclear missile operations and 12 years in leadership roles supporting the US Air Force Academy. He has designed and led leadership programs that help people build authentic leadership skills and lead with character under real pressure.

Fast facts

Consulting faculty member and Senior Leadership Faculty at KS Insight.
Retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with 24 years of service.
12 years in nuclear missile operations; 12 years in leadership roles at the US Air Force Academy.
Taught undergraduate and graduate leadership development courses at the US Air Force Academy.
Designed and implemented coaching programs, leadership seminars, and multi-year leadership development initiatives.
President-Elect of the AK Rice Institute.
Chair of the Programming Committee for the Adaptive Leadership Network.
Doctorate in leadership studies (University of San Diego), M.A. in adult education (Central Michigan University), B.S. in behavioral sciences (US Air Force Academy).

Biography

Leadership development and education

Dr Rod Smith is a consulting faculty member at KS Insight and brings over two decades of experience in academic leadership, program development, and experiential leadership development education. A retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, he has spent his career helping leaders develop the skills and character needed to lead in demanding environments.

Military and academic leadership

During his 24-year career in the US Air Force, Rod served 12 years in various roles within the nuclear missile operations career field and 12 years in support of the US Air Force Academy. In missile operations he served as a crew commander, instructor, chief of training, executive officer, tester, and strategic planner.

During his nine years at the US Air Force Academy, he taught undergraduate and graduate-level leadership development courses to help students and officers develop authentic leadership skills and become leaders of character. He designed and implemented coaching programs, leadership seminars, and multi-year leadership development initiatives.

Boards, networks, and current roles

Rod currently serves on the board of the AK Rice Institute as President-Elect and on the board of the Adaptive Leadership Network as Chair of the Programming Committee. In these roles he works to prepare leaders to address the toughest challenges in communities worldwide and to deepen practice around group dynamics, authority, and adaptive work.

Research and perspective

Rod holds a doctorate in leadership studies from the University of San Diego, a master’s degree in adult education from Central Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Science in behavioral sciences from the US Air Force Academy.

His research focuses on the transformative role of love in leadership practice and development at the personal, interpersonal, team, and organizational levels of leadership, with the goal of advancing respect for human dignity in communities.