Albert H. Smith

Bert graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Business Education and proud memories of his participation with the class of 1960 Corps of Cadets. He attended graduate school at the College of William and Mary where he received both his Masters Degree in Education and his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Administration. He also served six years with the Virginia Air National Guard. His professional career included thirty years experience in teaching and secondary administration with Hampton City Public Schools and York County Public Schools from which he retired. He was a former classroom teacher of math, physical science, economics, and business accounting. He served as a middle school principal, high school principal, and Director of Secondary Education.

As a state and nationally recognized advisor of student government organizations and journalism publications, especially award winning school yearbooks, Bert was always proud of the many accomplishments of his students and his fellow colleagues. In October 1994, he was inducted into the Virginia High School League's Hall of Fame at Charlottesville, in recognition as a Founding Father of the VHSL Publications Program. In April 1995 he was honored in San Diego by the National Journalism Education Association and was presented with a National Lifetime Achievement Award for his service to scholastic journalism.

Bert joined the staff of the Virginia Air & Space Center in March 1992, as it began its official opening in April that year. He retired from the Virginia Air & Space Center in 2008 after 17 years as the Volunteer Coordinator. He continued to volunteer, after retirement, accumulating over 2,117 hours.