Neal Smithwick is a proud graduate of the Executive Development Institute (EDI) of the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF), a member of the National Association of Fire Investigators (IAFI), holds graduate status with the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE), is a professional fire officer and holds the office of acting Station Officer with the Barbados Fire Service.

This twenty-nine (29) year veteran was elected as the Caribbean Regional Director of the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) in 1995. During his career he has served in many positions both in and outside his department, these include: Chairman of the Barbados Fire Service Association, as the Barbados representative for the Caribbean Association of Fire Fighters, and as an  instructor for the Heart Foundation of Barbados ( who conducted training programs both locally and regionally). He has also served with several agencies as a volunteer counselor in both Bereavement and Crisis Intervention.

He holds several professional qualifications which include an associate degree in Social Work, a diploma in Fire Service Management, certificates in Fire Service Leadership, Fire Science, Airport security and Safety, Hazardous material Awareness, Mass Causality and Incident Command, Emergency Medical Technician (level B) and Watch Commander among others.

He has work assiduously to agitate and educate fire officers in the Caribbean in raising their professional competence. His has been a voice of change for enhance work conditions and professional development in several departments across the Caribbean. He has worked with the executive board of the IABPFF to secure assistance for several departments in the following areas:  donations of training manuals, bunker gear, PASS devices etc which were donated to several of our Caribbean counterparts. He continues to serve the Caribbean and the IABPFF representative with diligence.