Ian Smith’s tertiary schooling was completed at the University of New England (Bachelor of Professional Studies – Military History) and Charles Sturt University (Graduate Diploma of Public Administration – Policing).

Ian joined the Army Reserve in 1984, and then entered the Royal Military College Duntroon graduating in June 1987. His early career included military police and instructional postings in Australia. In 1994 Ian was posted to Germany on exchange with the British Royal Military Police, and deployed to the former Yugoslavia in October 1995 as a peacekeeper. After returning to Australia, Ian transferred back to the Army Reserve in 1998, and spent his reserve service writing publications for the Army. He investigated organised crime and terrorism as a member of the Australian Federal Police between 1998 and 2020, and a tour of Cyprus as a peacekeeper in 2001. He then worked at the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing from 2010.

Ian retired from the Army in 2012 and has since been active within the veteran community, including as Chair of the RSL SA Anzac Day Committee from 2015 to 2025, and RSL Australia Anzac of the Year in 2024. This year he will be publishing a second edition of his well-received 2022 book about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from South Australia who have served in the Australian armed forces, titled “For Love of Country”.