Although she was only three years old, Barbara Smoak clearly remembers attending a party for her maternal grandfather’s retirement from Dupont in 1960. As a reminder of her family’s legacy at the Savannah River Site (SRS), she keeps a copy of the letter Leslie Albert Doty wrote to his employees in the Power Department at SRS. He said, “My final appeal is: accept your personal safety, and that of every human being, as the noblest of all duty.” His expectation for safety was one he made clear to his entire family, and it has been a continuing part of the legacy of three generations of this family’s service to SRS.
Barbara was born in Aiken to James Edward “Turk” Harrison and Flora “Flo” Doty Harrison. Natives of Tennessee, the Harrison family had moved to Aiken for Turk’s position at SRS. Growing up, Barbara and her sisters had no idea what their father or grandfather did at SRS. It wasn’t until she went to work at SRS that Barbara fully understood Turk’s responsibilities in the Health Physics Department. His focus was to ensure employee safety while working in radioactive environments, but in keeping with security norms of the times, no employee was to discuss his work at home.
Today, Barbara carries on the tradition of her father and grandfather in her commitment to safety at SRS. She is the Director of Business, Technology and Employee Communications for Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. Barbara’s position would have been unheard of when her grandfather and father arrived at SRS. When asked what is the best part of her position, Barbara says, “My job is to be transparent about the important work we do at SRS. We have enduring missions at SRS, and we truly make the world a safer place.”
Both parents were strong influences on Barbara. Flo was fun-loving and dedicated to her four daughters, her husband, and her community. Turk had an incredible work ethic coupled with the integrity to do the right thing. Barbara’s friends and coworkers see these very same traits in her personal and professional life.
After receiving a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering from Clemson University, Barbara returned to Aiken, where she met and married Rodney Smoak. Since 1992, she has been working full-time at SRS in a variety of positions of increasing importance. She cherishes the time she was able to see her father working at SRS before he retired. Until his passing, Barbara spoke to her father almost daily. He was proud of her career and he wanted to keep up with the Site’s current-day missions.
Today, the Smoaks’ family is comprised of five children and ten grandchildren. Their home is a wonderful gathering place, complete with horses and even goats. It is the perfect place to enjoy a party, as many Aikenites have come to know. You don’t have to know the Smoaks to enjoy their hospitality, as each year they have generously donated barn parties to various local nonprofit agencies as part of their fundraising efforts.
To know Barbara is to wonder how she maintains a demanding career, devotes herself to her large family, and still has time to volunteer throughout her community. Barbara says, “I have been blessed to be exposed to a number of quality of life initiatives over the years. I am passionate about education for all ages, and it has been a privilege to serve on several education foundations, including the Aiken Technical College Foundation Board of Trustees.”
with their children and grandchildren.
Barbara has also served in numerous leadership positions with the United Way of Aiken County, including a term as the Campaign Chair. She is a past member of the Board of Directors for Children’s Place and currently serves in a leadership position with the Aiken Center for the Arts. Barbara says, “I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to serve the Aiken community over the years. As a young mother, I exposed my children to various opportunities because I wanted them to know they should give back to our community.”
Barbara believes Aiken is not your typical small Southern city for a definite reason. She said, “I attribute much of its growth to the influx of families that came to Aiken from all over the country and the influences that came with them. Aiken is a blending of cultures due to SRS, and we are better for it.”
Three generations of service to SRS is remarkable, but it doesn’t end here. For several summers, Barbara’s son, Harrison Smoak, has participated in the Site’s college internship program as a construction engineering major. He attends the University of Alabama, and while his future career plans are unclear, Harrison is part of the four generations working at SRS who have experienced a legacy of service to the nation and to the Aiken community.
