Erin Smith

Erin Smith is the widow of Officer Jeffrey L. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, D.C. Officer Smith died in the Line of Duty on January 15, 2021, due to injuries he suffered at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. His loss led Erin to fight for Line of Duty Designation for his death. She also assisted with the bi-partisan passage by the U.S. Congress of the Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022. Smith has continued to educate and inform others that silent injuries can be Line of Duty Deaths.

Smith, a native of Georgia, holds a degree in Family, Child and Consumer Sciences from Florida State University and a Sport Management, Enterprise degree from Bowling Green State University.

Smith’s interest in sports and love for competition began at an early age and continued through her college years, playing lacrosse for Florida State University. After college, she coached the next generation of high school lacrosse players in Marietta, GA, and Ottawa Hills, OH.

She then pursued a career working in college football at the University of Virginia, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Richmond, where she was one of the first female Directors of Football Operations at the Division I level. Education and sports were two driving forces in Smith’s life – leading her to overcome barriers and pursue a career she was passionate about.

Smith continued to pursue her passion for learning following her football career, working for an education production company that provided resources to continuing education/lifelong learners. Smith then went on to work for Russell Reynolds Associates, an executive search firm, in healthcare, corporate communications, general counsel, social impact, and government and regulatory affairs sectors.