With sadness and a spirit of gratitude, we announce the passing of Philip Titcomb Smiley, who died on August 20, 2025, at the age of 80. Phil was born in Bangor, Maine, on August 10, 1945, to Henry and Serena Smiley. In 1958, the family, with six total children, moved to Cardiff by the Sea, California, where Phil graduated from San Dieguito High School and paid for his education at San Diego State University by working as a civilian flight instructor before joining the U.S. Navy in 1969.

Phil developed a love of flying early on through the influence of his father and his uncles, and he earned his pilot's license at the age of 16. He served 26 years as a naval officer, starting as a basic jet flight instructor and then transitioning to the Aerospace Maintenance Duty Officer community where he supported fighter squadrons, aircraft carriers, and forward-deployed aircraft in Guam.

After being selected as a Navy Acquisition Professional, Phil served at Naval Sea Systems Command, was an executive assistant for the Program Directors for Airborne Weapons and Tactical Aircraft, served as a major program manager in Naval Air Systems Command, and was the military assistant for Product Integrity on the Secretary of the Navy Staff. For 15 years after leaving active duty in the Navy, he supported multiple Navy and Department of Defense offices at the Pentagon.

In line with his perpetual love of learning, Phil earned a Doctorate of Education at George Washington University at the age of 62. Upon retirement in 2010, Phil and his wife, Robin, moved from the Washington D.C. area to Kirkland, Washington, where he made many friends at Rotary Club of Kirkland Downtown, Paine Field Civil Air Patrol, Boeing Employees Flying Club, and at Lakeside and Bellevue Presbyterian Churches. He enjoyed the area that he called "God's country" with his family and network. He also enjoyed traveling back to Bangor, Maine, to visit his son and family.

Phil is survived by his wife of 52 years, Robin Gottlieb Smiley; children Dustin Smiley (Sarah) and Megan Smiley Bly (Brett); six grandchildren: Ford, Owen and Lindell Smiley, and Lyla, Stella, and

Evelyn Bly; four sisters: Ardith Kemp, Priscilla Hone, Faye Brewster, and Julia Romaine; and many close cousins.

A celebration of his life will be held in the coming months. He requested that any donations in his honor be sent to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, formally Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, as they were responsible for extending his life well beyond what we imagined was possible.