Major Kyle "Assassin" Smith is an experimental test pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He received a BS in aeronautical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy, followed by an MS in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Smith's research at MIT focused on the optimization of an airborne collision avoidance system intended to replace the current TCAS system used by commercial aircraft. He then went on to receive undergraduate pilot training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, after which he was assigned to fly the F-15E Strike Eagle. While assigned to fly the F-15E at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, Smith deployed overseas as a flight lead in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He was then selected to attend the United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, where he earned an MS in flight test engineering. Smith then served as an experimental test pilot with the 40th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, where he led and executed avionics and weapons test programs in the F-15C, F-15E, and F-15EX. Smith has 1,350+ hours in 30+ different aircraft, including 179 combat hours.