When Senior Project Manager Bobby Lowe talks about how he got into the Army, he doesn’t sugarcoat it.
“I joined right out of high school because I needed to get out,” he says. His hometown didn’t even have a stoplight. What it did have was limits, and Bobby knew he was meant to see more, do more, and become more than what those few familiar streets could offer.
Finding Purpose in Uniform
Bobby turned eighteen in the middle of basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. No birthday cake. No family celebration. Just discipline, sweat, and the unmistakable feeling that his life was shifting into something bigger than himself.
From there, he headed to Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he was introduced to the world of telecommunications, long before Smartlink ever entered his story. Bobby trained on twisted pair lines, switching shelters, Line-of-Sight radios, and SATCOM systems. It wasn’t glamorous work, but it was the backbone of every mission.
“Comms kept everything alive. When they failed, the mission failed; and we made sure that never happened.”
Operation Iraqi Freedom: 13 Months That Changed Everything
In 2004, Bobby deployed to Iraq as part of a small team supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. For thirteen months, he worked in sand, exhaustion, and constant pressure, ensuring secure networks and GPS remained online for brigade combat teams across the region.
Lives depended on the systems he kept running. That kind of responsibility leaves a mark.
While he earned campaign badges and accolades, what stuck with him most was the weight of the mission and the people who relied on him.
A New Home in Texas
The Army eventually brought Bobby to Fort Hood, where he was stationed from 2002 to 2005 (minus that “quick jaunt overseas,” as he calls it). What started as an escape from a small town turned into the discovery of purpose, pride, and brotherhood.
Texas became home, and it still is.
Telecom has always been a surprisingly small world. Proof? Eddie Kidwell, one of Smartlink’s newer team members, served in the same unit at Fort Hood that Bobby once did. Today, the two of them work on the same team at Smartlink. Full circle in the best possible way.
Service That Echoes Into Today
At Smartlink, Bobby brings the same responsibility, discipline, and mission-first mindset he cultivated in the Army. His years in the First Cavalry Division and 13th Signal Corps continue to guide his leadership style and work ethic.
“First Calvary Division, 13th Signal Corps lead the way! HOOAH!”
Bobby’s journey reminds us how military service shapes not just careers, but character. We’re proud to honor him as part of Smartlink’s veteran community.
About Smartlink
Smartlink is a trusted leader in professional services and project management solutions, delivering innovative services that enable clients to streamline operations, enhance collaboration, and achieve measurable results. For more information, visit www.smartlinkgroup.com.