TSgt Kivan R. Smart

Biography

Technical Sergeant Kivan Smart is currently the Officer Accession Instructor at North Carolina A&T State University. Sergeant Smart is a native of Houston, Texas, and entered the Air Force in September 2005 and graduated from the Aircraft Armament System Apprentice school at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, in April 2006. He has a wide range of technical experience covering numerous aircraft, including the F-15, F-22, F-16, A-10, B-1, & B-52. Between tours covering those airframes, he has had assignments working in the backshop, support, and Maintenance Operations Center. This has enabled him to travel extensively throughout the country and the world, with multiple deployments to the Middle East, Europe, and the Pacific theater.

EDUCATION

2006 Aircraft Armament Systems, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2010 Airman Leadership School, Tyndall AFB, Florida
2015 Noncommissioned Officer Professional Enhancement Seminar, Dyess AFB, Texas
2021 Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Correspondence Course
2023 Associate of Applied Science, Aircraft Armament Systems, Community College of the Air Force
2024 Noncommissioned Officer Foundation Course 500, Langley AFB, Virginia
2025 Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment Cadre Instructor Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2025 Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Non-Commissioned Officer Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
ASSIGNMENTS

  1. September 2005 – October 2005, Basic Military Training, 321st Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, Texas
  2. October 2005 – April 2006, F-15 Technical Training Student, 363rd Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
  3. May 2006 – February 2009, F-15 / F-22 Weapons Load Crew Member, 1st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Langley AFB, Virginia
  4. March 2009 – March 2010, F-16 Aircraft System Armament, 8th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Kunsan AB, Korea
  5. March 2010 – April 2011, F-22 Weapons Load Crew Member, 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Florida
  6. May 2011 – May 2013, B-52 Weapons Support Technician, 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Minot AFB, North Dakota
  7. May 2013 – May 2014, A-10 Weapons Team Chief, 51st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Osan AB, Korea
  8. June 2014 – April 2015, B-1 Weapons Load Crew, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
  9. April 2015 – March 2018, B-1 Weapons System Controller, 7th Maintenance Group, Dyess AFB, Texas
  10. March 2018 – March 2019, F-16 Armament Maintenance Supervisor, 51st Munition Squadron, Osan AB, Korea
  11. April 2019 – September 2020, F-22 Weapons Team Chief, 27th Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB, Virginia
  12. September 2020 – January 2023, F-22 Armament Maintenance Supervisor, 1st Munition Squadron, Langley AFB, Virginia
  13. January 2023 – March 2025, F-22 Expediter / Support NCOIC, 94th Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB, Virginia
  14. March 2025 – Present, Officer Accessions Instructor, AFROTC/Detachment 605, Greensboro, North Carolina

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit award with 1 oak leaf cluster
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with 5 oak leaf clusters
Inherent Resolve Campaign with 1 service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air & Space Campaign Medal with 1 service star
Air & Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with 1 oak leaf cluster
Air & Space Longevity Service Award with 3 oak leaf clusters
NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
Air & Space Training Ribbon

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic – September 13, 2005
Airman First Class - October 28, 2005
Senior Airman – February 28, 2008
Staff Sergeant - September 1, 2012
Technical Sergeant - August 1, 2023

 (Current as of September 2025)