Sergeant Margaret Smith

Nothing is more satisfying than achieving an elusive goal. For Sergeant Margaret Smith, that goal was attained on May 14, 2011, when she walked across the stage at the Pennsylvania State University’s Bryce Jordan Center to receive her Bachelor of Arts in law and society, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. As a mother, active duty Army Sergeant, Army spouse and avid marathon runner, Maggie has learned a lesson in patience and perseverance by reaching this goal.

As a Tillman Military Scholar, Maggie enrolled at the prestigious Georgetown Public Policy Institute (GPPI) where she will graduate in May 2013 with her master’s of public policy in homeland security, as well as commission into the United States Army Officer Corps. At this time in our history, she believes there is no greater challenge than protecting our homeland from attack. Her education at Georgetown has incorporated military studies with public policy, putting her in a unique position to lead soldiers upon returning to active-duty as a Military Intelligence Officer.

After 9/11, Maggie enlisted in the Army on June 24, 2004 as a soldier in the Signal Corps and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She has been stationed in Darmstadt, Germany, Aberdeen Proving Ground, and Fort Meade, where she started her family, resumed work on her BA and decided to pursue a career as an officer. At Georgetown Public Policy Institute, Maggie participated in the Georgetown Army ROTC Program and served as the Cadet Battalion Commander to earn her commission as an officer through the US Army ROTC Green to Gold Program.

In addition to her studies, Maggie has served as the Georgetown Public Policy Student Association’s Service Chair responsible for organizing service events for GPPI’s student body throughout the year. She actively volunteers with The 6th Branch of Baltimore, MD, and she is an outspoken advocate and mentor for women like herself who possess the hereditary breast and ovarian cancer genetic mutation BRCA 1 or BRCA 2.

Maggie and her husband Patrick have a four year-old daughter Emily, who has attended multiple office hours, group meetings, capstone interviews, and several ROTC functions with her Mom.