David Adam Smith, commonly known as Adam Smith, is an American politician and attorney serving as the U.S. Representative for Washington's 9th congressional district since 1999. A member of the Democratic Party, he has chaired the House Armed Services Committee since 2019. His legislative focus includes national security, military policy, military modernization, veterans' affairs, and international relations, often advocating for balanced defense spending and oversight of Pentagon programs. Before entering Congress, Smith served in the Washington State Senate from 1991 to 1997, where he became the youngest Senate Majority Leader in state history at age 29. He began his career as a prosecutor in King County, Washington, after earning his law degree. Born in Washington, D.C., Smith grew up in Spokane, Washington, where he developed an interest in public service influenced by his family's military background—his father was a career Air Force officer. After graduating from Fordham University and the University of Washington School of Law, Smith worked as a public defender and private practice attorney before entering politics. He won his first election to the state senate in 1990, defeating an incumbent Republican. In Congress, Smith has been involved in key bipartisan efforts, such as the National Defense Authorization Act, and has testified before committees on issues like counterterrorism and military readiness. He maintains a moderate Democratic stance, occasionally diverging from party lines on fiscal and defense matters. Smith's tenure has not been without controversy; he has faced criticism from progressive Democrats for his support of certain defense contracts and drone programs, and from conservatives for his pushes toward reducing military overreach. In 2022, he testified before committees involving investigations into far-right extremism, linking to his relationship with experts like Heidi Beirich. Personally, Smith is married to Sara Smith, and they have two children. He resides in Bellevue, Washington, and continues to emphasize pragmatic governance in an increasingly polarized political landscape.