ARLINGTON, VA -- Michelle Smith has been named Vice President of Operations for the Navy Mutual Aid Association in Arlington, Virginia. Smith, the first African American to become a vice president in the history of the 132 year old company, assumed responsibility for insurance operations including the New Business, Underwriting and Customer Service sections on January 10, 2011.

Smith started her career in 1991 as a life insurance underwriter at the Prudential Insurance Company, located in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania. During her almost 7 years at Prudential, Smith rose to a Senior Underwriting Case Manager and underwrote business sold in the New York regional area.

Smith then spent a short time at Monumental Life in Baltimore Maryland as a Senior Underwriter before moving on to Banner Life Insurance Company in Rockville Maryland. In her nearly 5 years at Banner Life, Smith began to speak on medical topics pertaining to underwriting, both within the company as part of the medical director’s training program, and for the Baltimore/Washington Underwriters’ Association where she served as secretary.

Since coming to Navy Mutual in 2002, Smith has served as Imaging Project Coordinator; Assistant Manager, Underwriting; Floor Manager, Operations; and Director, Customer Service & New Business. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Management from Villanova University, and a Master of Business Administration degree in Human Resource Administration from Temple University, as well as a Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI), designation from the LOMA organization.

Smith resides in Stafford County Virginia with her husband Samuel, and their daughter Olivia.

Navy Mutual Aid Association is a nonprofit, federally tax-exempt, mutual benefit Veterans Service Organization which was established in 1879 by sea service members for the purpose of providing life insurance and annuities for members of the United States Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Public Health Service (PHS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and their families.