Adam Rion Smith

Current office and 2026 campaign

Adam Rion Smith, known as "Bear," ran as a Republican in the 2026 primary for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, challenging incumbent Rep. Chuck Edwards. He lost the March 3, 2026 primary. His campaign gained national attention for his Hurricane Helene disaster relief work in western North Carolina.

Background and education

Smith was born in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17, following a family tradition of military service.

Career

Smith spent nearly 17 years on active duty in the Army, the majority of that time as a Green Beret with the 19th and 20th Special Forces Groups. He served in Bosnia, on multiple tours in Afghanistan, and traveled across Southeast Asia, Central America, and South America. After leaving active duty, he became Director of Training and Head Instructor at Norse Tactical, training law enforcement and Special Operations personnel. He later founded Savage Freedoms and Savage Consulting, advising businesses and nonprofits across the United States and Canada. When Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, he organized Savage Freedoms Relief Operations, which he describes as the largest civilian disaster relief operation in modern history — conducting over 2,500 air sorties and distributing 6 million pounds of supplies to affected communities.

Family

Smith has a daughter in western North Carolina; his personal response to Hurricane Helene began when he set out to rescue her, conducting one of the first helicopter evacuations in the region after the storm.

Sources