Paris, Tenn. – L. I. Smith & Associates (LIS) is excited to announce that Christian Hunter, PLS, has joined the firm as a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS). Christian brings a diverse and accomplished background in surveying, military service, and the trades, adding valuable expertise to the LIS team.
Christian earned his Professional Land Surveyor license in December 2023, passing the exam administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying while serving as a Senior Land Survey Technician with the U.S. Forest Service in Taos, NM. He has continued to practice full-time as a surveyor across multiple states.
Most recently, Christian served as an instrument operator for New River Land Surveying in Boone, NC. Prior to that, he spent five years as a survey technician across five states, later becoming a Land Surveyor-in-Training with Honor Engineering Company in Harrisburg, PA.
Since beginning his surveying career in 2015, Christian has worked in a variety of challenging and unique landscapes, including the Gallatin and Gila National Forests, Reid State Park, and several U.S. Forest Service regions in Montana, New Mexico, and Oregon.
Christian also brings valuable leadership and discipline from his military service. He served as an Active-Duty Transportation Officer in the U.S. Army from 2006–2011, achieving the rank of Captain and earning the Army Commendation Medal for his service as an Operations Officer in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Between surveying positions, he also applied his skills as a carpenter across several businesses.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Advertising & Communications from Gannon University (2006), an Associate of Applied Science in Surveying Technology from the Pennsylvania College of Technology (2013), and an Associate of Applied Science in Carpentry from the University of Montana (2015).
Beyond his professional career, Christian is an avid long-distance hiker, having completed two major thru hikes: the El Camino de Santiago from St. Jean, France, to Fisterra, Spain, and the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. He also walked the Camino de Santiago Portuguese Route, further demonstrating his perseverance and dedication.
With Christian’s wide-ranging experience in surveying, military service, and the trades, LIS is confident he will be a tremendous asset to the team.