Author Profile

William Smith

William S. Smith is currently a Ph.D. candidate in political philosophy at the Catholic University of America. He holds a master’s degree from Catholic and a bachelor’s from Georgetown.

He has more than 25 years of experience in government and in corporate government affairs roles. His roles include senior staff positions for the Republican House leadership on Capitol Hill, the White House Office of National Drug Control policy, and in the Governor’s office in Massachusetts. He then spent ten years at Pfizer as Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy, and later served as a consultant to major pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies.

Smith is now president of ALR Technologies, a medical device company offering an innovative diabetes management tool. He lives in Wilton, Connecticut, with his wife and children.

Articles by William Smith


Taking the Scenic Route to a Ph.D.

After several decades away from academia, I am back pursuing the Ph.D. in political philosophy that I just missed attaining at a much younger age. My decision to return and finish my degree after a rewarding and lucrative career in government and business has met with a variety of reactions: surprise, delight and, yes, envy—but never indifference. Here’s my story.