Smeeks retires uniform, continues to serve Published Aug. 5, 2014 By Rebecca Amber Staff writer EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Col. Tammy Smeeks, 412th Mission Support Group, retired July 31 after 30 years of military service. A retirement ceremony was held in her honor at Club Muroc. Smeeks began her military career as a soldier in the Army. She was part of the fourth class of females accepted into the United States Military Academy at West Point. Midway through, she was offered an ROTC scholarship with the Air Force and switched into the blue. After moving to Edwards, she became the 12th female to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and one of the first females to fly the F-16 in the 1980s. After becoming an Air Force reservist, she became an instructor at TPS. During her time at Edwards she served in the 416th Flight Test Squadron, 412th Operations group as deputy commander, and with the 412th Mission Support Group as the chief of Test Wing scheduling. Smeeks will continue to serve at Edwards among the civilian ranks as a supervisor for Force Development Program and Training at Air Force Test Center headquarters.