Joseph Smith has earned his Mission Pilot Wings within the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit, according to a May 18 announcement from the department.
The achievement follows three years of work and specialized training, reflecting hundreds of hours of ground instruction in addition to flight training required for mastery of the Bell Kiowa airframe.
Smith serves as an officer at Odenville Police Department and is also a reserve deputy with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office. He is an Army Airborne veteran and holds multiple aviation credentials, including FAA Private Fixed Wing Rating, Private Helicopter Rating, Commercial Helicopter Rating, and Certified Flight Instructor Helicopter Rating. He is currently completing his Helicopter Instrument Rating at Wallace State.
According to the release, Smith’s father Richard Smith as well as his Odenville Police Department chief and captain will be present during the recognition event.
The accomplishment marks a significant milestone for both Smith and the Air Support Unit.
