Dr. Mike Smith | Forttuna Council Member

Skills

Executive Leadership Coaching & Leadership Development Organizational Performance, Resilience & Team Development Military, Corporate & Strategic Leadership

About

Dr. Mike Smith is a distinguished executive leadership coach, speaker, and former U.S. Air Force senior leader whose career spans more than four decades of military service, corporate leadership, and executive development. His journey began in 1983 when he enlisted in the United States Air Force, going on to serve for 26 years across...

Company details

Smith Research & Development, LLC

Company Bio

Smith Research & Development, LLC is a leadership development, executive coaching, and organizational consulting firm founded by Dr. Mike Smith. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, the company works with executives, senior leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Its services span executive leadership coaching, organizational consulting, keynote speaking, workshops, seminars, retreats, and group development programs, with a focus on creating effective leaders, high-performing teams, stronger workplace cultures, and greater alignment between people, purpose, and organizational goals.

The firm’s approach draws on Dr. Smith’s extensive leadership experience, including 26 years in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as First Sergeant of the USAF Thunderbirds, followed by a decade in senior corporate leadership within a Berkshire Hathaway Energy company. Smith Research & Development combines this real-world experience with research in industrial and organizational psychology to help leaders strengthen accountability, trust, collaboration, resilience, and organizational culture. The company is also recognized as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business.

About

During his military career, Dr. Smith held key assignments within Air Education & Training Command (AETC) Major Command Headquarters Staff, served as a Superintendent, led multiple base Honor Guard teams, and ultimately served as a First Sergeant. At the height of his Air Force career, he was hand-selected to serve as First Sergeant of the elite U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron. In this prestigious role, he travelled globally, representing the men and women of the Air Force through international airshows, community engagements, and speaking appearances while supporting one of the military's most recognised demonstration teams.

Following his retirement from active duty, Dr. Smith transitioned into the corporate sector, where he became a senior leader within a Berkshire Hathaway Energy company. Working within an organisation led by Warren Buffett and Greg Abel, he provided leadership and guidance to employees across multiple organisational levels, bringing the discipline, accountability, and people-centred leadership principles developed throughout his military career into a complex corporate environment.

Today, Dr. Smith provides one-to-one and group coaching to C-suite executives and senior leaders across Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies worldwide. His work also extends to high-performing entrepreneurs, founders, and leaders of emerging companies, helping them strengthen their leadership capabilities, navigate complex organisational challenges, and elevate individual and team performance. He continues to maintain a strong connection with the U.S. military by delivering leadership workshops at military bases around the world.

Dr. Smith's contributions to leadership development and executive coaching have earned him significant international recognition. In 2026, he was named among the “Top 10 Leading Speakers to Follow” by MSN.com, selected as “Leading Executive Coach – 2026 (Global)” by Corporate Vision in the United Kingdom, and recognised among the “Global 200 Inspirational Leaders 2026” by White Page International.

Drawing upon decades of experience across military, corporate, and entrepreneurial environments, Dr. Smith brings a distinctive perspective to leadership development grounded in service, accountability, resilience, and real-world execution. Through his coaching, speaking, and continued engagement with leaders across sectors, he remains committed to developing stronger leaders and helping individuals and organisations achieve sustainable, high-level performance.