Lawrence A. Smith
Lawrence 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, he 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, Smith made significant contributions to major aerospace programs. He helped engineer the wing design of the F‑4 Phantom II and played 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.
Smith was honored by his alma mater as a New Mexico State University Centennial Distinguished Alumni and was inducted into the 1994/1995 Who’s Who of Science and Engineering.