(Annapolis, MD) – I get a lot of emails during the
legislative session, but receiving this one from Montgomery County Senator
William “Will” C. Smith made me pause.
Silver Spring, MD, February 6, 2019 - State Senator William “Will” C. Smith, Jr., an Officer in the United States Navy Reserve,
has received orders from the Pentagon to deploy to Afghanistan in support of
Operation Resolute Support. Smith, who serves as the Vice Chair of the Senate
Judicial Proceedings Committee and is Chair of the Senate Veterans Caucus, will
report for duty on March 29, 2019. The Senator’s deployment comes toward the
end of Maryland’s 439th legislative session.
Senator Smith, who is an attorney in private practice with a focus
on national security law and employment discrimination, commissioned to be an
Intelligence Officer through the Navy Reserve’s Direct Commission Officer
Program and has received the National Defense Service Medal; the Global War on
Terrorism Service Medal; two Joint Meritorious Unit Awards; and a Joint Service
Achievement Medal.
Senator Smith’s office will remain operational in his absence and
his staff will be actively engaged in handling constituent matters for the
residents of District 20.
The next day I saw Senator Smith and told him. “Things just
got real.” He smiled and nodded. The Montgomery County Senator has been on a
unique trajectory since his appointment last year to the Senate (he won a full
term in November 2018). He is one of Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller’s
legislative lieutenants.
His military background endears him to a cross-section of
legislators from both parties, and it doesn’t hurt he is the Chair of the
Veterans Caucus. Senator Smith is not the first to deploy to a warzone. During
his term in the House of Delegates Congressman Anthony Brown was deployed to
Iraq.
The Naval Reserve Officers deployment will come before the
end of the 2019 session. It has put some pressure on the legislative leadership
to consider bring up controversial bill if they need passage.
Senator Smith talks about his deployment, constituents, and
legislative agenda in this edition of “Live from the Pit.” (just click)
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