Executive Officer

Commander Tara M. Smallidge grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. She attended California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego, CA where she studied Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) after completion of her internship at the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) in San Diego, CA. In 2016, she earned her Master of Social Work from Loyola University in Chicago, IL. She worked with government and executive consulting firms prior to commissioning. She entered the Navy as a direct accession in the Research Psychology subspecialty community.

In 2011, Smallidge was assigned as the department head of the Warfighter Performance Department at the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory (NSMRL) in Groton, Connecticut. She was one of the lead researchers supporting the Submarine Force’s (SUBFOR’s) Women in Submarines Initiative and a member of the Enlisted Women in Submarines Task Force (EWSTF) led by SUBFOR. From November 2011 to July 2012, Smallidge was hand-selected to be part of the Navy’s Mobile Care Team (MCT) eight-month deployment to Afghanistan as the command’s operational analyst. The MCT was directed by the Vice Chief of Naval Operations and Deputy Surgeon General to emphasize preventive mental health by engaging in routine site visits outside traditional medical settings. In 2014, she was selected as the Naval Medical Research and Development Enterprise Junior Officer of the Year.

In 2014, Smallidge served as the Flag Staff Psychologist, supporting the Naval Service Training Command where she supported 98 percent of Sailors who entered the Navy at the Recruit Training Command. She utilized her human behavior research training to better understand human performance in the recruit training environment. Since 2012, Smallidge has been a visiting instructor at the U.S. Naval War College. She has taught and coached over 600 senior leaders, including Flag Officers, on the EQi 2.0 Emotional Intelligence Assessment, Hogan Personality Assessment, and various other leadership assessments. From 2016 to 2019 she spearheaded this effort at the Naval Leadership and Ethics Center in Newport, RI. As a Board-Certified Executive Coach (BCC), she currently serves as a subject matter expert (SME) in support of the Navy’s effort in coaching.

From 2019 to 2022, Smallidge served as the Director for Research and Assessment at Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC) in Charleston, SC. As this was a new department requested by Naval Reactors, she was selected to create a screening and selection process and a personal development/ coaching program for both students and staff.

In 2023, Smallidge was called to serve as the Assistant Inspector General for Command Climate Evaluation for the Office of the Naval Inspector General in Washington, D.C. She was responsible for the design and analysis of pre-event surveys and focus groups for all Echelon II command inspections and quality of service area visits.

In August 2025, Smallidge took up the role of Executive Officer at NSMRL. NSMRL's mission focuses on sustaining the readiness and superiority of undersea warriors through innovative health and performance research.
Personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.