Lynnetta Smith, Co-Founder and Executive Director
Lynnetta Smith has been the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Combat Boots 2 The Boardroom (CB2TB) since 2019, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterans and their families in their transition to civilian life. She currently serves as Chairman of the Bryan County, GA Board of Elections, as Honorary Commander for the 165th Airlift Wing (Comptroller Flight) in Garden City, GA (2025-2027), and as an Advisory Board Member for United Way of Bryan County.
Lynnetta holds a Master of Public Administration, with a major in Public & Nonprofit Studies, from the Executive Cohort at Georgia Southern University. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the Forbes School of Business at Ashford University and an Associate of Science in Management from Barstow Community College. Most recently, she completed the FAA Part 107 Prep Course, becoming a credentialed UAS (drone) pilot — a credential she now brings directly into CB2TB’s workforce development programming.
With nearly two decades of unwavering dedication to federal government service, Lynnetta has flourished as a committed civil servant, specializing in budget and resource management across various branches of the military. Her career includes transformative roles that have honed her expertise in strategic financial planning and effective resource allocation. A notable highlight includes completing Temporary Duty Location Developmental Assignments at FORSCOM Headquarters, showcasing her adaptability in the dynamic landscape of military finance.
As a Senior Budget Analyst at the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in Quantico, Virginia, she demonstrated a keen ability to navigate complex fiscal landscapes while safeguarding essential resources. Her strategic acumen in defending budgetary projections at the Pentagon further solidified her reputation as an advocate for securing critical national defense funding. A pivotal phase in her career emerged when she served as Budget Officer at Winn Army Community Hospital, where she successfully managed three distinct appropriations totaling an impressive $265 million.
Until September 2023, Lynnetta served as Chief of the Atlantic Region for Budgetary Affairs at CID Hunter Army Airfield, overseeing resource allocation for the East Coast and European territories, including Belgium, Germany, and Italy. Since transitioning from federal service, she has fully dedicated herself to leading CB2TB, expanding its impact and resources to better support veterans, military families, and youth empowerment initiatives.
Under her leadership, CB2TB’s P.R.O.S.P.E.R. Veteran Transitional Cohort has been recognized as a United Way Community Partner, ensuring that veterans have innovative access to workforce development opportunities. Through this initiative, veterans receive behind-the-scenes access to ten industries across six counties, providing first hand exposure and direct pathways to sustainable careers. Lynnetta has since led the evolution of the program from a single nine-month cohort into a three-month cohort model, allowing CB2TB to run more cohorts per year and serve a greater number of participants. That shift also opened the door to P.R.O.S.P.E.R. 2.0 (WINGS), a mixed cohort extension that brings military spouses alongside veterans to help close the gap in the workforce arena. Through WINGS, spouses gain FAA Part 107 drone pilot credentialing — a federal certification that travels with them from base to base without the cost and delay of recertifying every time they move states, making it a genuinely portable, high-wage career. Building on this same momentum, Lynnetta is also implementing a Youth Leadership Council focused on 10th, 11th, and 12th graders, preparing them with a targeted agenda for life after high school, whether that path leads to college, the workforce, or entrepreneurship. This program reflects Lynnetta’s commitment to bridge the gap between military service and civilian employment, fostering long-term success for those who have served.
Beyond her professional achievements, Lynnetta is a devoted wife of 24 years to James Smith, a 20-year veteran, and a dedicated mother to her two daughters, Nicole and Blythe. Her journey embodies a steadfast commitment to service, mastery of budgetary strategy, and an unwavering dedication to empowering veterans and their families.
James Smith, Co-Founder
James Smith retired in 2018 after serving 20 years in the United States Army, where he served in the Army Signal and Intelligence Corps and received numerous awards and decorations for his hard work and dedication. During his time in the military, James learned to work as a member of a team, to take orders as a member of a team, and ultimately to lead a team — an experience that gave him a lasting appreciation for the value of teamwork, giving everyone a chance to show their strengths while helping them grow in the areas where they are weak. James spent his career not only serving the country but also working to make his fellow soldiers not just better soldiers, but better people. He believes the most important thing is taking care of people and their families — that if you do that, there is nothing they cannot accomplish. It’s a belief he still holds today.
This love of helping grew further in 2019, when James and his wife Lynnetta founded Combat Boots 2 The Boardroom (CB2TB), a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans and their families as they transition from military to civilian life. Having gone through that process himself, James knows firsthand the challenges veterans and their families face and the obstacles they have to overcome. Through CB2TB, he set out to make that transition a little less stressful for families as they navigate unfamiliar territory. Since 2019, James has provided toys to kids in the area through Toys for Tots every year through CB2TB, and he has helped plan and participate in back-to-school events and other kid-friendly community events. James is also a certified FAA Part 107 UAS drone pilot and oversees CB2TB’s credentialing programming under TCB Drone Academy – Georgia, bringing his own certification full circle into the organization’s workforce training. Through CB2TB, James will continue to give back to the community.
Prior to founding CB2TB, James volunteered wherever he lived. He has coached recreation teams, volunteered at schools, and taken part in many other community events as a way to give back. He served as an Ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce from 2021 to 2023, assisting and volunteering as a member of the Chamber. These are just some of the ways James has given back to the community, and he will continue doing so in the future.
After retiring from the Army, James drew on his degree in Criminal Justice to serve as the Crime Analyst Supervisor for the Savannah Police Department, where he led a team of ten analysts to provide intelligence, information, and data to officers and department and city leadership. He also worked closely with the rest of the department to make sure they had the information they needed before they knew they needed it. Through this role, James saw firsthand the impact on the community when everyone worked together for the greater good, deepening his belief in the power of teamwork.
Today, James is a Human Resource Development Specialist with the ATF, where he works as part of a team in the design, implementation, and evaluation of ATF training programs — helping shape input that makes the organization a better place. This work reflects a principle James has always tried to live by: always leave an organization better than it was before you joined it. It’s a philosophy grounded in his Master’s degree in Performance Improvement, and one he takes to heart — always looking for ways to make things better, learning along the way, because he knows no one has all the answers and that we are stronger together than we are apart.
Nicole Smith, Co-Founder, Kits 4 Kids Program
Nicole Smith is a current Senior in the Richmond Hill High School Class of 2027 and an accomplished student leader, military child, and community advocate dedicated to serving others through leadership, education, and volunteerism. As the Co-Founder of the Kits 4 Kids Program, the youth initiative of Combat Boots 2 The Boardroom (CB2TB), Nicole has spent nearly six years helping expand programs that positively impact children, veterans, and families throughout Coastal Georgia.
Nicole has been announced as the inaugural District 12 representative to the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Youth Council at the State Level, a district covering ten counties across Southeast Georgia: Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven. As the first student to hold this seat for District 12, Nicole will represent the voice of youth across the region in statewide municipal leadership conversations.
Throughout her high school career, Nicole has consistently challenged herself academically by enrolling in Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and Dual Enrollment courses, demonstrating a commitment to academic excellence while preparing for college and a career in medicine. Her dedication to rigorous coursework reflects both her work ethic and determination to excel in one of the nation’s most competitive healthcare professions.
As President of the Richmond Hill High School National Honor Society and President of the CB2TB Youth Leadership Council, Nicole leads by example through scholarship, leadership, service, and character. She is also an active member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), where she continues to strengthen her leadership abilities while pursuing her passion for healthcare.
Nicole has also been selected to participate in Richmond Hill High School’s inaugural Patient Fundamental Care course during her senior year. This milestone is particularly significant, as the course represents a new healthcare pathway that required five years of planning and advocacy by school administration before receiving approval. As a member of the program’s first student cohort, Nicole will gain hands-on foundational clinical knowledge and patient care experience that will further prepare her for success in college and the healthcare profession.
Through Kits 4 Kids, Nicole has helped organize and lead numerous community initiatives, including the annual Back 2 School Community Events, the Pages & Reels Bookmobile Literacy Initiative, literacy outreach programs, and fundraising efforts supporting the Paul Monroe Leadership & Academic Scholarship. Her leadership has contributed to awarding scholarships to graduating high school seniors while promoting literacy, education, and youth leadership throughout the region.
In addition to these initiatives, Nicole has been instrumental in supporting Combat Boots 2 The Boardroom’s Toys for Tots Campaign for the past seven consecutive years. During that time, CB2TB has proudly served as Bryan County’s sole authorized nonprofit organization responsible for distributing Toys for Tots gifts to local families. Nicole has helped lead every annual campaign, assisting with toy collection drives, volunteer coordination, event logistics, inventory management, and distribution efforts that have provided thousands of toys to children throughout Bryan County. Her long-standing commitment to this signature community initiative reflects her passion for ensuring every child experiences the joy and hope of the holiday season.
Nicole’s passion for healthcare has grown significantly through her involvement in HOSA, her rigorous academic preparation, and her personal experiences as the daughter of a disabled combat veteran. Watching her father, a 100% Permanent and Total disabled veteran, navigate ongoing medical care through the Department of Veterans Affairs has strengthened her desire to pursue a career in diagnostic medicine. These experiences have inspired Nicole to become a Radiologist, combining advanced medical imaging technology with compassionate patient care to help physicians diagnose illnesses and improve patient outcomes.
Whether serving her school, leading community initiatives, mentoring younger students, or preparing for a career in medicine, Nicole remains committed to creating meaningful change through service, leadership, and academic excellence. Grounded in the values of resilience, integrity, and perseverance instilled through her military family upbringing, she represents the next generation of leaders who are prepared to make a lasting impact on their communities and the healthcare profession.
Blythe Smith,
Co-Founder, Kits 4 Kids Program
Blythe Smith is an exceptional and compassionate 10-year-old who continues to make meaningful contributions to her community while excelling academically and exploring new interests. A current fifth grader in the Gifted Program at McAllister Elementary School, Blythe demonstrated a love for learning from an early age and is proud to be a member of the Beta Club, recognizing her commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and service.
Blythe’s passion for literacy is evident through her continued involvement with the Pages & Reels Bookmobile, a youth literacy initiative she co-founded with her older sister through the Kits 4 Kids program at Combat Boots 2 The Boardroom. She enjoys encouraging younger students to develop a love for reading and understands the importance of literacy as a foundation for future success.
Dedicated to serving others, Blythe actively supports Combat Boots 2 The Boardroom’s annual Toys for Tots campaign and Back 2 School initiatives, helping ensure local children and military families receive toys, school supplies, and other essential resources. Her heart for service reflects a genuine desire to make a positive impact within her community.
As her interests continue to evolve, Blythe has developed a passion for volleyball and is beginning to explore the game of golf, embracing new opportunities to build confidence, teamwork, and discipline through sports.
Whether serving her community, encouraging literacy, or pursuing new athletic challenges, Blythe demonstrates kindness, determination, and leadership well beyond her years. She is an inspiring example of the next generation of young leaders committed to making a lasting difference.
