Dr. Smith brings more than a decade of experience working in politics and public opinion research. He currently works in WPAi’s Washington, D.C. office as Research Director where he leads the several research teams in methodological oversight, vendor management, analytical training, and program development. He also assists as the chief gatekeeper to WPAi’s Principals and Strategists between theory and execution of the product to their informative insights that lead to victory.
During his five years at WPAi, Dr. Smith has served 100s of clients with results driven accuracy and the necessary clarity to win big campaigns at every level of government – From Presidential to U.S. Senate and U.S. Congress as well as at the state level for Governor and state legislature. He has managed the execution of polling and analytics projects and shepherded the combination of the two. He has also served corporate clients in helping them increase their market share through strategical advice and messaging techniques.
During the 2018 cycle, WPAi provided analytics and polling for key races at the state and federal level around the country. WPA data propelled winning campaigns such as Ted Cruz and Greg Abbott in Texas, Governor Brian Kemp in Georgia, Governor Ron Desantis in Florida, Governor Kevin Stitt in Oklahoma, Senator Kevin Cramer in North Dakota as well as dozens of Members of Congress and down ballot races. WPAi is also proud to have assisted campaigns that came up short such as Martha McSally in Arizona, Adam Laxalt and Dean Heller in Nevada, and Matt Rosendale for Senate in Montana. Dr. Smith played an integral role in each of those races.
Dr. Smith has been a professor of political science at Liberty University for six years where he teaches State and Local Government, American Executive Processes/Institutions, and Public Policy in a Partisan Political Environment. He has also taught Polling and Campaign Communications at Indiana University East for four years.
He received a Ph.D. in public policy from Walden University in 2012, a Master in Public Administration from Webster University in 2009, and a bachelor in political science from Pfeiffer University in 2004.
Prior to working in politics full-time, Dr. Smith served in the United States Air Force from 2004- 2008 as a medic with one tour in Iraq.