New Mexico State University

Lawerence A. Smith

Lawrence A. Smith began his journey from humble origins as an open-range cowboy on a cattle and sheep ranch, but his ambitions led him to pursue education through Ft. Sumner schools and New Mexico State University. After serving in the U.S. Navy, Lawrence embarked on a remarkable 39-year career with McDonnell Douglas Corporation, culminating in his role as Vice President of Aircraft Engineering for the MCAIR division.
Throughout his career at McDonnell Douglas, Lawrence made significant contributions to several key aerospace programs. Among his many achievements, he took part in engineering the wing design of the F-4 Phantom II and had a critical role as engineering director in the design, development, and production of the AV-8B Harrier for the U.S. Marines.
He was named an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and received several prestigious awards, including the AIAA Aircraft Design Award, the AIAA Technical Management Award, and the Paul E. Haueter Memorial Award for Aircraft Engineering. He was also honored by his alma mater as a New Mexico State University Centennial Distinguished Alumni and was inducted into the 1994/1995 class of Who’s Who of Science and Engineering.