George A. Smith

George A. Smith is the author of Soldier of the Airwaves (Defending Democracy One Song at a Time). Smith spent more than forty years in and out of uniform serving the United States military with the American Forces Network (AFN).

He’s a leading authority on military broadcasting’s history and impact on foreign cultures, appearing on global radio shows, newspapers, and magazines. From 2013 to January 2022, he was the Department of Defense’s worldwide spokesman for AFN based out of Riverside, California.

Smith served as a leader, DJ, newscaster, and writer for America’s overseas military broadcast network in Germany, Thailand, and Korea. He reported on the end of the Vietnam war, the crumbling of the Berlin wall, and the 9/11 terrorist assault on the United States.

During his broadcast career he interviewed Fleetwood Mac, Journey, Hot Chocolate and scores of other rock stars. Other one-on-ones include former Ambassador to Czechoslovakia and child star Shirley Temple Black, and the then-Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, General Wesley Clark.

Smith left the active duty Army in 1981 to attend college full time. While attending college, he interned with NBC’s Late Night With David Letterman in 1982.

After a stint as a DJ in St. Louis, Missouri, and a position with Voice of American in Washington DC, Smith rejoined AFN in 1987 as a Department of the Army civilian in Germany. He served as a station manager, chief of radio, chief of command information, and chief of operations.

Smith went on to win top worldwide honors in radio, television, and print from both the Army and the Department of Defense. He was the Army’s first Civilian Broadcast Journalist of the Year.

In 2000, the military selected him for training with industry with CNN and TBS.

Smith free-lances as a humor writer, with his past work appearing in Reader’s Digest Humor in Uniform, Hallmark Greeting Cards, and National Lampoon magazine.

REVIEWS OF SOLDIER OF THE AIRWAVES:

“A tour-de-force in storytelling, this book seamlessly combines history, adventure, and the power of radio.” Chris V

“Humorous, personal, and gripping all at the same time … this could easily be a movie.” Jef

“I highly recommend giving this book a read. It’s invaluable because it will make you contemplate how great America can be when we honestly share who we are..." William Hickman

“In many ways this is a book that speaks to the higher levels of leadership. About how inspiring troops is as important as fuel and ammo.” Joseph

“What makes this book different from others is it does so in a humbling, sometimes self-deprecating, manner and unvarnished truth.” Colonel (retired) Dave Honchul, USAF