Donovan Smith has built a career defined by service and lifelong learning through his roles in the military in mission-critical intelligence.
A Geospatial Intelligence Chief Warrant Officer 2 in the U.S. Army, Donovan has spent more than 15 years in uniform, serving in roles across the globe. In 2024, he earned his master’s
degree in homeland security online through Penn State World Campus — a milestone that not only marked his academic achievement but also reflected his commitment to advancing in the field of military intelligence.
Donovan’s work on a classified geospatial intelligence project earned him the prestigious Office of the Director of National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation.
As part of the Penn State World Campus “40k Alumni: 40 stories celebrating 40,000 Penn State graduates,” we highlight Donovan’s story. He spoke about his experience as an online learner, his military career, and how he’s applying his education in real-world intelligence operations.
Tell us about your military experience.
I’ve been serving in the Army since June 2010 — I enlisted just two weeks after graduating high school in California. Over the past 14 years, I’ve held a variety of roles, including squad leader, platoon sergeant, and combat advisor. I’ve been stationed at Fort Shafter in Hawaii, at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) in North Carolina, and twice at Fort Carson in Colorado.
Currently, I’m a Geospatial Intelligence Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2) assigned to the Collection Management and Dissemination Cell for U.S. Army Europe-Africa, based in Wiesbaden, Germany. I also serve as a GEOINT projects officer, which has given me the opportunity to work on some high-impact intelligence initiatives with global reach.
Why did you choose Penn State World Campus for your graduate degree?
College didn’t seem like an option to me when I was growing up, and no one in my family had gone to college. I was focused on working, getting good grades, and playing sports. I never thought I’d be able to attend a prestigious university like Penn State.
I earned my bachelor’s from American Military University in intelligence operations.
Several years ago, I learned that Penn State was the first major university to create a GEOINT (geospatial intelligence) program. As a GEOINT chief warrant officer in the Army, I was immediately interested. I initially enrolled in the GEOINT-focused homeland security program, but since I already do that work professionally, I switched to the broader homeland security program to learn more about the field, especially the policies and agencies that govern it.
What was your experience like as an online learner?
I loved the pace, the easy access to instructors, and the opportunity to receive a great education while continuing to serve. Professor Nicholas Eftimiades inspired me to take the field seriously. His work in the government and homeland security is known worldwide. He was my favorite instructor.
I visited campus for graduation in August 2024.
I have been able to apply what I learned to my intelligence work, especially when it comes to safeguarding the U.S. border and using intelligence systems. One of the biggest takeaways came from Professor Eftimiades’ class, where I learned how to work with multiple intelligence community agencies and OGAs like the CIA and State Department. That knowledge helped me when I had to coordinate with U.S. embassies and host nation governments for a GEOINT system deployment project.
Tell us about the GEOINT project you’ve been working on.
Since January 2023, I’ve been the sole military representative on a project with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Most of the team are civilians from classified agencies. My role includes:
- coordinating with U.S. embassies in countries where we want to deploy the system
- traveling with teams to military bases and working with local units
- helping with setup, software, and system emplacement
- briefing senior leaders like General Holden and General Cavoli
- providing updates to leadership and managing unit orders for soldiers supporting the system
The goal is to improve GEOINT capabilities in areas near current and potential conflict zones. The system is already supporting operations related to the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine mission.
I was presented with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation for my contributions to this project in 2024. It’s an ongoing effort that supports global intelligence operations, and I’m honored to be part of it.
What are your future goals?
I love my profession and the team I work with. I’ve always said I’ll continue serving as long as I enjoy it and feel like I’m making a difference. When I retire — maybe in ten years — I want to look back and be proud of my contributions to the military intelligence corps and the GEOINT field.
After the Army, I’d love to use my degree and top-secret clearance in a meaningful civilian role. Ideally, I’d like to retire in Colorado, but if the right opportunity comes up elsewhere and my family is on board, we’ll go for it.
This Q&A spotlight is part of “40k alumni: 40 stories celebrating 40,000 graduates,” a series marking the milestone of more than 40,000 Penn Staters earning their degrees online through Penn State World Campus.