Colonel Michael L. Smidt

SFA #M10028

August 1957 to November 2026

     Mike Smidt, age 69, passed away unexpectedly.  He is survived by his beloved wife Sandra, three children and 12 grandchildren.  He was born in Oakland, CA.

     In February 1976, Mike enlisted in the U.S. Army and attended basic infantry training and AIT at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.  Following Airborne School, he was assigned to the 505th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division.  Upon discharge from active duty, Mike moved to San Diego, CA and became a sworn officer with the San Diego Police Department.  Concurrently, he attended National University, Cal Western School of Law and enlisted into the U.S. Army Reserves.  He served 10 years with C/2/12th Special Forces Group (A), and was a SF qualified Weapons Sgt. 

After graduating from law school, he initially worked for the San Diego City Attorney’s Office before moving to the U.S. Attorney Office.  Mike subsequently returned to active duty as an U.S. Army JAG officer.  He had a wide variety of career assignments in operational law and military justice.  Staff judge advocate for the 1st Infantry Division; professor of international and operational law at the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s School; chief of operational law for the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command.  He also served as the staff judge advocate to the 1st Special Forces Group (A); U.S. Special Forces Command; Special Missions Unit and U.S. Special Operations Command; before he became the first U.S. Army officer to serve as the U.S. Strategic Command’s staff judge advocate. 

Mike was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and U.S. Army War College.  He saw service in Desert Storm; Uphold Democracy; 4-tours of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.  After 41 years of service, the Smidt family moved to Utah, where Mike became a college professor.

     Mike was a member of the Special Forces Association – Chapter 75, in San Diego, CA.  He was well respected and loved by all who knew him.  He will be missed by his family, friends, and the brotherhood of Green Berets.  He served his nation and community exceptionally well and with honor – De Oppresso Liber.