Amber Smith

Amber Smith is a combat veteran, author, and national security expert whose career spans from piloting military helicopters to serving in senior roles at the Pentagon. Smith is among the few women to have flown the Kiowa Warrior helicopter, conducting armed reconnaissance missions that required low-altitude, high-speed flight in active combat zones. She deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, advancing to Pilot-in-Command and Air Mission Commander in a leading Kiowa unit in the Army. Smith served with the 2-17 Cavalry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Division, where she participated in operations against terrorist groups including the Taliban and al Qaeda. She also provided aerial security for Air Force One in Afghanistan.

Smith's military experience provided the foundation for her career in public service and communications. She served as Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Outreach in Public Affairs, advising on strategic outreach, community relations, stakeholder engagement, entertainment and film partnerships, and digital media. Previously, Smith was a Special Assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, press secretary of caucus operations at the Republican National Convention, and an advisor to the Presidential Transition Team for the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs.

Smith is the author of two books on military affairs. Her memoir, "Danger Close: My Epic Journey as a Combat Helicopter Pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan," offers a firsthand account of combat operations. Her second book, "Unfit to Fight: How Woke Policies are Destroying Our Military," addresses defense policy and military readiness. Both works draw on her expertise in military operations and defense policy.

Smith is the founder and president of Beacon Rock Strategies, a strategic advisory and communications consulting firm. She is a writer, speaker, and commentator who provides analysis on national security, military operations, and foreign policy on national television and in publications. Smith serves as a Senior Fellow at Independent Women's Forum, and her articles have appeared in Forbes, The Hill, The Washington Examiner, and Aviation Week. She is a regular guest on television and radio programs including CNN, Fox News, Fox Business, and MSNBC. Smith has spoken to military and corporate audiences, veterans organizations, grassroots events, and on Capitol Hill. She was named Virginia Military Institute's Leader-in-Residence, contributing to the Center for Leadership and Ethics' mission to develop leaders in the military and public service sectors.