Eric Smith (general)
Eric M. Smith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1987–present |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Marine Corps Combat Development Command III Marine Expeditionary Force First Marine Division United States Marine Corps Forces, South 8th Marine Regiment 1st Battalion, 5th Marines |
| Battles/wars | Gulf War Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (2) Purple Heart |
Eric M. Smith is a United States Marine Corps general who serves as the 36th assistant commandant of the Marine Corps since 8 October 2021. He most recently served as the deputy commandant for Combat Development and Integration, being succeeded by Karsten Heckl.[1][2]
Education[]
Eric Smith is from Plano, Texas. Smith was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 1987 through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program at Texas A&M University.
Marine career[]
After completing The Basic School and Infantry Officer's Course, he received assignment to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines as rifle platoon commander participating in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Following a tour as an Officer Selection Officer, he attended the Amphibious Warfare School and then reported to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines for duty as Commanding Officer of Weapons and E Companies. During this tour he participated in Operation Assured Response in Monrovia, Liberia. After a tour as a Marine Officer Instructor at Texas A&M University, he attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College. The following assignment was as the Naval Section Chief at the U.S. Military Group in Caracas, Venezuela from 2001 to 2003.
From 2003 until 2006, Smith served in the 1st Marine Division as the Division Operations Officer; Executive Officer of Regimental Combat Team 1; Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. During this time, had several deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, including Fallujah in 2004 and Ramadi in 2005. He has also served in the 2nd Marine Division as the Assistant Chief of Staff and the Commanding Officer of 8th Marine Regiment, which was deployed to Afghanistan and was involved in Operation Enduring Freedom. From July to November 2015, he commanded the Marine Corps Forces Southern Command in Miami, Florida. Then he was transferred to the Pentagon to serve as the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense.[3][4]
As a major general, Smith assumed command of the First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton.[5] The division is part of the larger I Marine Expeditionary Force.[6] As commander, he led a hazing crackdown but was rebuked by a military judge.[7]
In May 2018, Smith was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general,[8] and assignment as commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force.[9] He received his promotion and assumed command of III MEF in August 2018.[10]
Smith has also participated in Operation Assured Response in Liberia.[11]
On 13 June 2019, Smith assumed responsibility as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command and the Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration.
In July 2021, he was nominated and confirmed for promotion to four-star general and assignment as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, succeeding Gary L. Thomas.[12] He assumed the position from the retiring Gary L. Thomas on October 8, 2021.
Awards and decorations[]
References[]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eric M. Smith. |
- ^ "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
- ^ "PN596 — Lt. Gen. Eric M. Smith — Marine Corps". U.S. Congress. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
- ^ "Previous Assignments". 24 June 2017.
- ^ "Smith, M Eric".
- ^ "Storied 1st Marine Division Gets New Commander". 24 June 2017. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ "First Marine Division". Retrieved 2018-03-03.
- ^ "16 marines separated for hazing". Retrieved 2018-03-18.
- ^ "PN1913 — Maj. Gen. Eric M. Smith — Marine Corps". U.S. Congress. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
- ^ "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
- ^ "III MEF bids farewell to Nicholson, welcomes Smith as new commanding general". Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-02.
- ^ "Lieutenant General Eric M. Smith Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force; and Commander, Marine Forces Japan". Marines. Retrieved Sep 15, 2018.
- ^ "PN818 — Lt. Gen. Eric M. Smith — Marine Corps". U.S. Congress. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
Leadership of the United States Marine Corps | ||
|---|---|---|
| Commandants |    | |
| Assistant Commandants |
| |
| Sergeants Major | ||
| ||
- Living people
- Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- United States Marine Corps generals
- United States Marine Corps personnel of the Gulf War
- United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War
- United States Marine Corps personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Assistant Commandants of the United States Marine Corps