Military Team Members

L.I. Smith & Associates (LIS) is proud to support our veterans and service members. We understand the importance of the leadership, personal devotion, and sacrifices made by our military personnel and the value they bring to our team.

Our military ties go all the way back to our co-founder, Larry Smith, who cofounded the company in 1975 and later went on to enlist in the United States Air Force and Tennessee State National Guard. We believe leadership in the private sector has many of the same attributes as leadership in the military, and, as such, we believe these skills are directly applicable to in the workplace.

After nearly 50 years in business, we continue to thrive and grow because of our dynamic team of professionals across numerous departments including survey, engineering, marketing, human resources, and accounting. Each of our staff members bring their own unique experience to our collaborative environment, which allows us to provide a team-focused approach to projects and tasks.

We value the individual contributions made by each of our talented team members. We understand the skills gained through hands on work experience as well as time spent in military service are each imperative to workplace success.

Our Veterans and Service Members

Learn more about each of our personnel, as well as their current roles in their respective military branches.

Nick Haberman

Nick Haberman joined the Army National Guard in 2020 and was recently promoted to an E-5 Sergeant. His newly assigned unit is the 194th Headquarters and Headquarters (HHC) out of Jackson, TN. He has completed Basic Combat training at Fort Sill Oklahoma and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Haberman’s Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) in the army is a Technical Engineer (12T), which mainly consists of surveying. He graduated from 12T School with honors and was second in his class. While in 12T School, Haberman set the school record for the fastest traverse around Brown Hall.

Mike Ilko

Mike Ilko is the Command Sergeant Major (CSM) of the Regimental Engineer Squadron (RES) in the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR), belonging to the Tennessee Army National Guard. RES, a 600+ Soldier Engineer Battalion, is comprised of a Headquarters located in Lebanon, a Military Intelligence Company situated in Nashville, a Signal Company positioned in Knoxville, a Forward Support Company located in Smyrna, and two Engineer Companies, in Dunlap and in Russellville. While responsible for setting standards and enforcing policies, regulations, and directives, he is also accountable for the battalion's health, discipline, morale, and welfare. Ilko coaches and trains First Sergeants and Platoon Sergeants, supervises their professional development, and advises on their personnel assignments, concurrently acting as the Commander's representative in supervising aspects vital to battalion operations and advising the Commander on enlisted matters.

Brad Jones

Brad Jones actively served in the U.S. Navy from 2013 to 2017. Jone’s position was an E-5 but he was addressed as MR2, which is known as Machinery Repairman 2nd Class. He went through basic training and “A”-School at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois. Jones also went through Advanced Shipboard Firefighting School in Norfolk, Virginia. During his service, he was stationed onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, CVN-72, an aircraft carrier, during its Refuel and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) period, which is the process for refueling and upgrading nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. He also went out to sea for his Sea Trials and Flight Deck Certification.

AJ Maxwell

Outside the office, Maxwell continues to serve his country as a 1st Lieutenant (1LT) in the Tennessee Army National Guard, a promotion effective in June of 2024. He currently serves as Platoon Leader and Battery Fire Direction Officer (FDO) at Charlie Battery, Regimental Fires Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR). His military career began as a Combat Engineer and progressed through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in May 2022. Maxwell has trained in multiple states including Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, and recently completed the Field Artillery Basic Officer Leadership Course (FABOLC) from February to June 2024.

Tyler LaPointe

Tyler LaPointe joined the Army National Guard in 2011. He graduated Engineer Warrant Officer Basic Course in November 2024, as a 120A Construction Engineering Technician. His responsibilities include serving as the subject matter expert on construction operations, facilities management, and project management in a multifunctional capacity across various engineering operations from an engineering company through Army Service Component Command units during his deployments. LaPointe has had the opportunity to survey in six countries which include Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, Jordan, Kuwait, and Iraq throughout his time in the military. He correlates his duties from LIS to the Army National Guard by doing many of the same tasks in both careers, such as surveying, drafting, project management, and training others. He is currently assigned to the 913th Engineer Construction Company, in Union City, TN, where he serves as the head advisor to the commander for construction projects and has a large role in overseeing the surveying and project design.

Larry Smith

Larry Smith is an almost 30-year veteran with a highly decorated career, having received numerous awards and decorations throughout his nearly two decades of service. These honors include Commanding General Letter of Commendation, Meritorious Service Ribbon, Commendation Ribbon, Aid to Civil Authority with one Oak Leaf, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Task Force Volunteer, Community Volunteer Service with two silver and three Oak leaf, Recruiting Achievement Ribbon, to name a few. During his extensive military career, Smith paved the way for the implementation of numerous initiatives that benefited both his fellow guardsmen and the community. Smith is also a member of several professional and military organizations including the National Guard Association, State Guard Association, American Legion, Veteran of Foreign Wars, Society of the American Military Engineers, Tennessee Association of Professional Surveyors, and the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers.

Their Accomplishments

Our personnel are continuously furthering their skillsets through trainings and military classes. Learn more about their experiences here.

Mike Ilko Graduates from the Sergeant’s Major Academy

After two years of hard work, Mike Ilko celebrated his well-deserved graduation from the distinguished Sergeant’s Major Academy this past April.

Tyler LaPointe Graduates Warrant Officer Candidate School in Top 20%

Tyler LaPointe, LSIT, survey technician, recently transitioned from Staff Sergeant (SSG) to Warrant Officer (WO1) with the Army National Guard. This transition occurred after LaPointe attended and completed the Warrant Officer Candidate School for five weeks in early 2024, having met numerous requirements including various physical challenges, as well as several academic assessments and interviews. His graduation ceremony was on February 14 at the Army Aviation Museum on the base of Fort Novosel in Alabama. “Attending the Warrant Officer Candidate School is an experience that I will not forget. This has set the foundation for the rest of my military career, and I look forward to where this development takes me in the future,” shared LaPointe.

Larry Smith Honored as Keynote Speaker at Local Veterans Day School Program

Larry Smith, Executive Vice President and cofounder of L.I. Smith & Associates (LIS) was invited to be the keynote speaker for the Veterans Day program at Dorothy and Noble Harrelson school on Friday, November 10th, 2023.