As CPB’s chief legal officer, West Smithers defends the company’s legal interests, monitors compliance with federal and D.C. law, and ensures adherence to standards of ethical conduct in CPB’s administration of the federal appropriation for public broadcasting.
Smithers joined CPB in 2005. From 1999 to 2005, he was Executive Vice President and General Manager for Business Operations of the Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation's Central Virginia television stations, WCVE-TV and WCVW-TV. During that time, he also served as General Counsel and Secretary to the corporation's board of directors. From 1995 until 1999, he served as Vice President for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Services, directing the corporation's Central Virginia communications, broadcasting and engineering operations.
From 1986 until 1994, Smithers directed Virginia's Department of Information Technology, overseeing a 394-employee operation that provided data processing, telecommunications and information systems development services to state and local government agencies.
Smithers also served in the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia from 1972 through 1986. As Assistant Attorney General and later as Senior Assistant Attorney General, he provided counsel to, and representation for, 16 state agencies in matters concerning administrative, contract, telecommunications and constitutional law.
Smithers is a graduate of the University of Richmond's T.C. Williams School of Law and Randolph-Macon College. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar, and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, U.S. District Courts, and the Virginia Supreme Court.