BISMARCK Lt. Col. Rick Smith has assumed duties as the public information officer for the North Dakota National Guard.
North Dakota National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk made the announcement April 18.
Smith replaces Capt. Dan Murphy who will lead the public affairs efforts for the upcoming Kosovo mission later this summer.
Smith, a native of Bismarck, joined the N.D. National Guard in 1990, excelling in various staff positions and successful company command. Smith was deployed to Iraq from 2007 to 2008 as an operations and liaison officer with the Engineer Brigade serving in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Smith is a 1990 graduate of the University of Montana with a bachelor of arts degree in public relations and received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Murphy has served in various capacities with the N.D. National Guard including both first sergeant and commander of the 1/129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. He is currently assigned as the commander of the 116th Public Affairs Detachment and was deployed in support of the global war on terrorism serving in Qatar from 2006 to 2007.
Murphy will concentrate on preparing for the Kosovo mission in the next months before mobilization later this year. The N.D. Army National Guard is expected to deploy about 700 soldiers in support of the mission.