Alice Smart and John Corley

Prior to their meeting, Alice Smart and John Corley had accumulated a wide range of career and personal experiences, a way of life that continued after they married eighteen years ago.  At the time, Alice was retired which allowed her to accompany John, who with an active-duty status with the United States Air Force, received various assignments both abroad and in the States.

For Alice, a desire for adventure started at age 12 when on a family trip by car from their small farm in Fairhope, Alabama, to Virginia to visit relatives. The beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the excitement of Northern Virginia were forever embedded in her consciousness. She loved the journey and resolved not only to return to Virginia, but to experience more of the world.

Alice graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and a year later moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she worked in Intensive Care. This experience motivated her to seek a master’s degree as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. The University of Colorado accepted her, but with one big problem. The government had discontinued tuition scholarships and neither Alice nor her parents could afford the college expenses. Fortunately, the school contacted an Air Force (AF) recruiter who called Alice and offered an opportunity she could not resist.  If she joined the AF and stayed for three years, she would enter as a 1st Lieutenant and receive enough salary to pay the tuition. Her response was, “Where do I sign?”

Once completing the requirements for the master’s degree Alice received an assignment to the Air Force’s largest Medical Center, Wilford Hall, in San Antonio, Texas. She had planned to leave the AF after her three-year commitment but decided to extend her time when assigned to Wiesbaden Germany.  One thing led to another and eventually she retired after 26 years of service at the rank of Colonel.  During the course of her career Alice lived in the states of New York, Florida, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Mississippi. Her jobs progressed from Staff Nurse; Head Nurse; Outpatient Supervisor; Chief of Staff Development; Chairman, Department of Medical Nursing; Chairman, Ambulatory Care; Medical Inspector to Director of Nursing.

 After retirement, Alice met and married her true love, John Corley. She traveled with him to many States and foreign countries.  They lived in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads before moving to Smith Mountain Lake.  

John’s fondest childhood memories are of spending time with his dad, a career officer and World War II B-17 pilot. He followed in his father’s footsteps graduating from the Air Force Academy with a bachelor’s degree in engineering. The following year he earned his wings at Reese Air Force Base Texas and embarked upon a career that comprised a mix of flying, command and staff positions. His aviation duties afforded thousands of hours of single-seat fighter time with extensive combat experience. Operationally, he held command at squadron, group, wing and major command levels. His key staff assignments included: Principal Deputy, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition; Military Director, U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board; and Director, Studies and Analysis, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

As the 32nd U.S. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, John had oversight responsibilities for 680,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian personnel. At his last assignment as Commander at Air Combat Command he directed the planning, organizing and training for combat-ready forces operating 11,200 aircraft at over 200 locations worldwide.

After retiring in 2009 as a four-star General with more than 36 years of active duty, John served on the board of the Air Force Association to educate the public about the critical role aerospace power plays in defense of our nation. Today, he is an associate member of the Falcon Foundation which provides scholarship funding for promising young men and women aspiring to attend the Air Force Academy. Currently, he is a director on several corporate boards and consults for defense industry corporations.

But by far, John reports that the greatest aspect of his life was when after a near four-year courtship, Alice Smart accepted his marriage proposal on the Charles Bridge in Prague.  Today, Alice and John continue to enjoy international travel plus spending time with the four children, their spouses and the four grandchildren they share.  They are thrilled by the opportunity to become part of the Westminster Canterbury Community and know that once settled  they will have many more adventures.