Editing Michael J. Smith (section)

==Early life and military career==
Smith was born April 30, 1945, in [[Beaufort, North Carolina]]. He graduated from Beaufort High School in 1963 and went on to receive a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in Naval Science from the [[United States Naval Academy]] in 1967.

Smith subsequently attended the U.S. [[Naval Postgraduate School]] at [[Monterey, California]], from which he graduated with a [[Master of Science]] degree in [[Aeronautical Engineering]] in 1968. Smith was awarded a [[Marshall Scholarship]] and went on to complete naval aviation jet training at [[Naval Air Station Kingsville]], [[Texas]], receiving his [[United States Aviator Badge|aviator wings]] in May 1969. Smith was then assigned to the Advanced Jet Training Command ([[VT-21]]) where he served as an [[flight instructor|instructor]] from May 1969 to March 1971. During the two-year period that followed, Smith flew [[A-6 Intruder]]s and completed a tour in 1972 during the [[Vietnam War]] while assigned to Attack Squadron 52 ([[VA-52 (U.S. Navy)|VA-52]]) aboard the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Kitty Hawk|CV-63|6}}. During his deployment with VA-52, Smith took part in [[Operation Linebacker]], the first continuous bombing effort conducted against North Vietnam since 1968.

After returning from Vietnam, Smith attended [[U.S. Naval Test Pilot School]] (NTPS), graduating from the program in 1974. Following NTPS, he was assigned to the Strike Aircraft Test Directorate at [[NAS Patuxent River]], [[Maryland]], to work on the A-6E TRAM and [[Cruise missile]] guidance systems. Smith returned to NTPS in 1976 and completed an 18-month assignment there as an instructor. From Patuxent River, he was assigned to Attack Squadron 75 ([[Attack Squadron 75 (United States Navy)|VA-75]]), serving as a maintenance and operations officer while completing two Mediterranean cruises aboard the aircraft carrier {{USS|Saratoga|CV-60|6}}.

During his time in the Navy, Smith flew 28 different types of civilian and military aircraft, cumulating in 4,867.7 hours of flying time.<ref name=nasabio>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/smith_michael.pdf |title=MICHAEL J. SMITH (CAPTAIN, USN), NASA ASTRONAUT (DECEASED) |publisher=NASA |access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref>