Jason grew up on a family farm in the Lahore area of Orange County where he still lives today. While attending Orange County Public Schools, Jason achieved Eagle Scout, won Congressional Service Awards and took part in the Explorer Program with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. His journey in public service began early in his life.

Jason is the second son of Ronnie and Trudy Smith, who have lived and worked in Orange County their entire lives. Jason met his wife, Kristen, in 2001, and they were married in 2005. Since then they have raised their son and daughter – Trenton, born in 2011, and Campbell, born in 2013 – in the home built by his great-great-grandfather in the 1850s.

Jason graduated from Old Dominion University in 2003 summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Criminal Justice. He was hired by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in 2004. After receiving the top overall award in his basic training class, Jason spent the next two decades being promoted from Patrol Sergeant to Investigations to Captain of Operations.