Hunter Smith, O.D.

Dr. Hunter Smith, O.D. is a Captain and an Optometrist in the United States Army Medical Department currently serving as the Vice Chief of Optometry at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri where he provides clinical optometry services in direct support of active-duty Soldiers and mission readiness requirements. In his current assignment, he serves in a dual role, performing comprehensive primary eye care at General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH) for active-duty service members, their dependents, and military retirees, while also supporting the Army's initial entry training mission at the 43rd Adjutant General Reception Battalion, where he helps oversee the visual readiness and medical in-processing of trainees entering basic training. Fort Leonard Wood serves as one of the U.S. Army's major training instillations, and Dr. Smith is directly responsible for ensuring that incoming Soldiers meet the medical and visual standards required to begin military service.

Serving within a high-volume military medical system, CPT Smith contributes to both patient care and clinical operations, helping maintain the efficiency, accountability, and professional standards required in a mission-driven healthcare environment. His clinical experience includes the management of complex cases requiring coordination with ophthalmology, neurology, rheumatology, and specialty services, with particular professional interest in treating and preventing ocular conditions that affect visual function and operational performance. Whether performing comprehensive primary eye care in a hospital setting or screening trainees for basic training in-processing, patient-centered care is central to Dr. Smith’s professional philosophy. He emphasizes addressing each patient’s complete set of concerns, educating them on testing and treatment options, and involving them in the shared decision-making process that dictates their course of clinical care. He prioritizes honesty when cases require outside referral and seeks resolution when treating both acute and chronic ocular conditions, consistently aiming for the best outcomes for all of his patients.

Dr. Smith earned his Bachelor of Science in Physiology from the University of Scranton in 2020, where he developed a strong academic foundation in human biology and medical science that would guide his future career in healthcare and military service. His commitment to serving others began well before his professional training, as he worked as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician in his hometown community during his high school years, an experience that instilled in him a lasting sense of duty, discipline, and responsibility to his community. He later earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Kentucky College of Optometry in 2024 and went on to develop a broad background in primary eye care, ocular disease, and military operational medicine. He is recognized for his disciplined work ethic, attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to the responsibilities entrusted to him as both an optometrist and an Army officer.

In addition to his clinical responsibilities, CPT Smith has demonstrated a strong aptitude for leadership, organizational management, and strategic thinking. His leadership philosophy is grounded in accountability, professionalism, and mission-first execution, while maintaining a firm commitment to the welfare of the Soldiers and patients under his care. He is known for holding himself and those around him to high standards, with the belief that effective leadership requires both competence and character.

He maintains a deep and longstanding interest in public service, civic leadership, and the institutions that shape American society. His long-term professional goals include continued service in roles that allow him to contribute at a broader level, with particular interest in healthcare systems, economic development, and policies that strengthen working-class communities and expand access to essential services. Both within and outside military duties, CPT Smith remains active in physical training and Army endurance exercises, practicing a lifestyle that prioritizes health and fitness standards in accordance with his role as a U.S. Army Officer.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, CPT Smith enjoys staying active and spending time outdoors, with interests that reflect both his appreciation for tradition and his enthusiasm for new experiences. He enjoys golfing, hunting, ice-fishing, ATV-riding, and snowmobiling, and values time spent traveling and exploring different parts of the country whenever his schedule allows. These activities provide a balance to the demands of military medicine and allow him to stay grounded, disciplined, and connected to the people and places that shaped him. He also has a strong appreciation for American sporting traditions and cultural events, and is particularly known among friends and colleagues for his annual trips to the Kentucky Derby, where he enjoys the history, pageantry, and sense of tradition that surround the event. For him, these experiences represent more than recreation — they are an opportunity to build friendships, strengthen professional relationships, and take part in longstanding traditions that reflect the character of the country he serves.

In addition to his personal interests, CPT Smith maintains an ongoing commitment to public service and advocacy outside the clinic. He has taken part in discussions and meetings related to healthcare policy and visual health, including advocacy efforts focused on improving care and access for patients with low vision and complex ocular conditions. His involvement has included opportunities to engage with national-level leaders, including a personal discussion with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., where CPT Smith contributed his perspective on the importance of protecting vision, maintaining readiness, and ensuring that patients receive the specialized care they need.

Whether through medicine, service, or personal pursuits, CPT Smith approaches life with the same mindset that guides his work — a belief in discipline, responsibility, and making the most of every opportunity to learn, lead, and contribute.

CPT Smith’s life and career reflect a consistent commitment to service, discipline, and leadership, with a professional reputation built on reliability, high standards, and a determination to contribute meaningfully wherever he is called to serve.

• University of Scranton - BS
• Kentucky College of Optometry - OD

• National Board of Examinations in Optometry - Parts 1, 2 and 3
• License to Practice Optometry in the State of Missouri

• United States Army Health Professions Scholarship

• Volunteer EMT
• Hometown Community (during high school)