Charles W. Smith graduated from Yale with a degree in Chemical engineering in 1941 and began his career with E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc., where he was chemist and project engineer in atomic energy, organic chemistry and small arms. Although he was expecting to join the Navy as an ensign, he was immediately sent to Oak Ridge where he worked in the lab. He took part in both the Oak Ridge and Manhattan Project atomic energy programs in World War II. This is where he would also meet a secretary who would later become his wife, Marylyn J. Swope.
In 1947 he joined the Plaskôn division of Libbey‐ Owens‐Ford Glass Company as senior product engineer. He joined the Borden Chemical Company in 1951 as operations manager for Borden plants and then as general manager for the Polymer division, leaving for Olin in 1961. He went on to later become the Vice President of the Olin Corporation.
Charles W. Smith passed away April 3rd, 1974 at the age of 53.