Francine has 27 years serving in leadership positions in human resources, operations, marketing and finance in the federal government and private industry with most of her career in the aviation industry.Francine retired from NASA in 2020 as the Deputy Director of Human Resources at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Before joining NASA, she worked for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington DC where she was the HR Officer and Assistant to the Administrator for the Risk Management Agency. Prior to these federal government positions, she held several leadership positions in private industry.

Francine was the Vice President of Human Resources for Flying Food Group headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to that position, she worked for US Airways from 1996-2005 where she was the Director of Dining & Cabin Services responsible for the worldwide catering operations, and also held positions as the Manager of Inflight Sales and the Manager of Business Processes & Finance. Francine also held positions as the Director of Customer Service, Pricing Manager, and Human Resources & Organizational Development Manager for Caterair International, which was the largest airline caterer in the world.

Dr. Smith was also an Adjunct Professor for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for 15 years teaching undergraduate HR and management classes at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Aviation Business Management, an MBA in Aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a BS in Human Resources Management.