Systems Officer is the solo guise of Armistead Burwell Smith IV, founding member of Pinback and Three Mile Pilot. He uses the alias "Zach Smith" on most Systems Officer releases. In addition to an EP in 2004 and an album in 2009, Systems Officer has released a series of digital singles, involving collaborators such as Tom Zinser, Chris Prescott, Jim Duffy, Otis Barthoulameu, Jason Hooper, Ely Moyal, Kenseth Thibideau, and Brandon Relf. As a live act, Systems Officer has performed and toured with Prescott, Thibideau, Barthoulameu, and others as members.