Past Events

Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security, Gentry O. Smith, came home to Weldon on February 10 to share with a large welcoming audience an account of his life’s journey from a student at Weldon High School to the top of his profession, leading the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).

His past and current DSS job assignments have seen him travel around the world to 80 countries, including tours of duty at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, Rangoon, Burma, and Tokyo, Japan.

Smith’s career in law enforcement began soon after graduating from N.C. State University. After four years as a Raleigh police officer, in 1987 he joined the federal government’s foreign service as a special agent.

Over a period of three decades, he assumed increased responsibilities that have led him to now serve in the highest position within the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security. After Presidential nomination and then Senate confirmation by the 117th U.S. Congress, Smith was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security on August 12, 2021.

In his reflective and inspirational speech “From Weldon to the World” in the Ralph J. Bunche Gymnasium at Weldon STEM High School, Smith spoke directly to the young people who are preparing for careers and further education. He advised them to: Listen and learn. Set priorities. Seek advice from others. Learn from mistakes and temporary failures. Adapt and stay the course. 

Two of Smith’s Weldon teachers from the mid-1970s, Roy Barnes, coach, and Eddie Davis, English and Drama teacher, made a pre-planned surprise appearance and offered personal testimonies about Smith’s high school student days.

The Hawkins family of Halifax County recognized Smith’s achievements with the presentation of a plaque. Other plaque presentations included the sponsoring organizations Tau Beta Beta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and Weldon In Action, a recently formed non-profit community entity devoted to town revitalization. The mayor of Weldon, Hugh C. Credle, presented an official proclamation from the town establishing February 10, 2023, as Gentry O. Smith Day.

Visiting from his Washington, D.C., office, Smith served as the second speaker in Weldon In Action’s new Weldon Heritage Speaker Series.

Event coordinators James “Coach Tank” Williams and Alice Joyner Irby served as moderators for the historic occasion.

Prior to the 1:00 p.m. public gathering, Smith spoke to a small, private gathering of local law enforcement officials and members of Weldon In Action’s Safety Committee. And hours after the public assembly Smith partook of an informal and celebratory social hour with boyhood friends and community members at 51 Sycamore Restaurant in Weldon. Accompanying the Assistant Secretary for all three events were three Diplomatic Security Service special agent colleagues and the Director of Public Affairs.

For more information on Smith, visit state.gov/biographies/gentry-smith. And for questions or comments regarding Smith’s visit to his native Weldon, contact Williams at coachtank@hotmail.com or 252-578-4066.