In March 2022, Security officer Marques Smith will have served the University of Maryland, Baltimore Police Department (UMBPD) for 15 years. 

“I became a security officer to protect and serve,” says Smith, who works in the SMC Campus Center and the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. He reminds everyone coming into UMB buildings to keep their UMB One Card handy and show it to the security officers. 

Smith says his biggest challenges on the job have come during the COVID-19 pandemic. “There are daily challenges, but I follow the guidelines to keep myself and others safe,” he says.

As a longtime security officer, Smith enjoys being able to show his leadership skills and aspires to become a security supervisor. “My greatest achievement is being a part of the team,” he says. Teamwork is very important to Smith, who coaches football at Milford Mill Academy in his free time.

Outside of work, Smith says he can be a very quiet person, “but I can always be the life of the party!” In fact, Smith’s most memorable moment was when his co-workers at UMB threw him a surprise birthday party!