Eric Smith (general)

{{Infobox military person

| name = Eric Smith

| image = Gen Smith Official Photo V1.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2021

| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|58|2023|5|31}}

| birth_place = Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| allegiance = United States

| branch = United States Marine Corps

| serviceyears = 1987–present

| rank = General

| commands = {{plainlist|

}}

| battles = {{ubl|Persian Gulf War|Iraq War|War in Afghanistan}}

| awards = {{ubl|Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2)|Legion of Merit|Bronze Star (2)|Purple Heart}}

| alma_mater = Texas A&M University (BA)

| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Opening Statement of Gen Eric Smith at his Confirmation Hearing to be Commandant of the Marine Corps.ogg|title=Eric Smith's voice|type=speech|description=Smith's opening statement at his confirmation hearing to be commandant of the Marine Corps
Recorded June 13, 2023}}

}}

Eric M. Smith (born 1964 or 1965){{cite news|last=Lamothe|first=Dan|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/05/30/eric-smith-marine-corps-commandant-biden/|title=Biden nominates No. 2 Marine Corps officer to lead service|date=2023-05-31|access-date=2023-07-10|newspaper=The Washington Post}} is a United States Marine Corps four-star general who has served as the 39th commandant of the Marine Corps since 22 September 2023.{{cite web|last=Loewenson|first=Irene|url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2023/09/22/top-marine-leader-sworn-in-1-day-after-senate-confirmation/|title=Top Marine leader sworn in 1 day after Senate confirmation|date=2023-09-23|access-date=2023-09-23|website=Marine Corps Times}}{{cite web|url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2023/09/21/the-marine-corps-finally-gets-an-official-top-leader/|date=2023-09-21|title=The Marine Corps finally gets an official top leader}} He served as acting commandant of the Marine Corps between 10 July 2023 and 22 September 2023 while awaiting Senate confirmation. Before nomination to the position he served as the 36th assistant commandant of the Marine Corps and before that as the deputy commandant for Combat Development and Integration, being succeeded by Karsten Heckl.{{cite web |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/1809880/general-officer-announcements/ |title=General Officer Announcements |date=9 April 2019 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |access-date=2019-06-01}}{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/596 |title=PN596 — Lt. Gen. Eric M. Smith — Marine Corps |date=23 May 2019 |website=U.S. Congress |accessdate=2019-06-01}}

Early life and 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. During his time at A&M, he was a member of the Ross Volunteers and Commander of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band in the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets.

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.{{cite web |author= |date= |title=Lieutenant General Eric M. Smith Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force; and Commander, Marine Forces Japan |url=https://www.iiimef.marines.mil/About/Leaders/Commanding-General/ |accessdate=Sep 15, 2018 |publisher=Marines}} 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. He was a foreign area officer and can speak Spanish.Hodge Seck, Hope (30 June 2015). [https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2015/06/30/1-star-becomes-first-dedicated-commander-of-marine-forces-south/ 1-star becomes first dedicated commander of Marine Forces South]. Military Times. Retrieved 22 September 2023.

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. He was the first dedicated commander of Marine Forces South at its Miami headquarters. Then he was transferred to the Pentagon to serve as the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense.{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/sd-no-pendleton-command-20170623-story.html |title=Previous Assignments|date=24 June 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://homeofheroes.com/valor/08_WOT/ss_GWOT/citations_USMC-M.html |title=Smith, M Eric |access-date=7 March 2018 |archive-date=12 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512001854/http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/08_WOT/ss_GWOT/citations_USMC-M.html |url-status=dead }}

As a major general, Smith assumed command of the First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton.{{cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2017/06/23/storied-1st-marine-division-gets-new-commander/|title=Storied 1st Marine Division Gets New Commander|date= 24 June 2017|accessdate=2018-03-02}} The division is part of the larger I Marine Expeditionary Force.{{cite web|url=http://www.1stmardiv.marines.mil/|title= First Marine Division|date= |accessdate=2018-03-03}} As commander, he led a hazing crackdown but was rebuked by a military judge.{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/least-16-marines-separated-hazing-165446380.html|title= 16 marines separated for hazing |accessdate=2018-03-18}}

In May 2018, Smith was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general,{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/115th-congress/1913|title=PN1913 — Maj. Gen. Eric M. Smith — Marine Corps|date=7 May 2018|website=U.S. Congress|accessdate=2018-05-18}} and assignment as commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force.{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1515294/general-officer-announcements/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509035742/https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1515294/general-officer-announcements/|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 May 2018|title=General Officer Announcements|date=8 May 2018|website=U.S. Department of Defense|accessdate=2018-05-18}} He received his promotion and assumed command of III MEF in August 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/4609836/iii-mef-bids-farewell-nicholson-welcomes-smith-new-commanding-general|title=III MEF bids farewell to Nicholson, welcomes Smith as new commanding general|date=2 August 2018|website=Defense Visual Information Distribution Service|accessdate=2018-08-02}}

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.{{Cite web|title=PN818 — Lt. Gen. Eric M. Smith — Marine Corps|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/818|access-date=2021-07-14|website=U.S. Congress}} He assumed the position from the retiring Gary L. Thomas on 8 October 2021.

In May 2023, Smith was nominated to succeed General David H. Berger as commandant of the Marine Corps;{{cite news|last=Lamothe|first=Dan|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/05/30/eric-smith-marine-corps-commandant-biden/|title=Biden expected to nominate No. 2 Marine Corps officer to lead service|date=2023-05-30|access-date=2023-05-31|newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/118th-congress/691?s=1&r=47|title=PN691 — Gen. Eric M. Smith — Marine Corps, 118th Congress (2023-2024)|date=2023-05-30|access-date=2023-05-31|website=U.S. Congress}}{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3411718/general-officer-announcements/|title=General Officer Announcements|date=2023-05-31|access-date=2023-06-01|website=U.S. Department of Defense}} his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee was held on 13 June 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/to-consider-the-nomination-of-general-eric-m-smith-usmc-for-reappointment-to-the-grade-of-general-and-to-be-commandant-of-the-marine-corps|title=Confirmation Hearing of Gen Eric M. Smith, USMC, to be Commandant of the Marine Corps|date=2023-06-13|access-date=2023-07-10|website=Senate Armed Services Committee}} Smith became acting commandant upon Berger's retirement on 10 July 2023, as his confirmation was delayed by Senator Tommy Tuberville's hold on military nominees.{{cite web|last1=Seligman|first1=Lara|last2=O'Brien|first2=Connor|last3=Gould|first3=Joe|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/13/tuberville-marine-corps-pentagon-00101735|title=Tuberville hold scrambles Marines' plans for top officer's retirement|date=2023-06-13|access-date=2023-07-10|website=Politico}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/32334|title=Webcast: Commandant of the Marine Corps Relinquishment of Office Ceremony|date=2023-07-10|website=DVIDS}} He was confirmed by a unanimous 96-0 vote on 21 September 2023, and sworn in on 22 September.{{cite web|last=Gould|first=Joe|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/21/senate-confirms-george-to-lead-army-bucking-tuberville-logjam-00117394|title=Senate confirms Army and Marine chiefs, bucking Tuberville logjam|date=2023-09-21|access-date=2023-09-22|website=Politico}}{{cite web|last=Loewenson|first=Irene|url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2023/09/22/top-marine-leader-sworn-in-1-day-after-senate-confirmation/|title=Top Marine leader sworn in 1 day after Senate confirmation|date=2023-09-23|access-date=2023-09-23|website=Marine Corps Times}}

File:Gen Eric Smith is Sworn in as the 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps 230922-N-LN643-5325.jpg, secretary of the Navy, on 22 September 2023]] On 29 October 2023, Smith was hospitalized after a medical emergency.{{Cite web |title=UPDATED: CMC Eric Smith Hospitalized After Heart Attack |date=30 October 2023 |url=https://news.usni.org/2023/10/30/marine-corps-commandant-gen-eric-smith-hospitalized |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031000830/https://news.usni.org/2023/10/30/marine-corps-commandant-gen-eric-smith-hospitalized |archive-date=2023-10-31}} Smith was diagnosed with cardiac arrest. On 9 November, he issued a statement saying, "My recovery is going well, and I look forward to getting back in the fight as soon as I can".{{cite news | last =Loewenson | first =Irene | title = Top Marine, recovering from cardiac arrest, plans to return to work| newspaper = Marine Times | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =November 9, 2023 | url = https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2023/11/09/top-marine-recovering-from-cardiac-arrest-plans-to-return-to-work/ | accessdate =November 9, 2023 }} As of the time of his swearing in as Assistant Commandant, General Christopher J. Mahoney has been performing General Smiths duties as Commandant of the Marine Corps. Before Mahoney was sworn in on 3 November,{{Cite web |title=General Christopher J. Mahoney |url=https://www.marines.mil/CM/Biographies/Bio-Display/Article/2478637/general-christopher-j-mahoney/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marines.mil%2FCM%2FBiographies%2FBio-Display%2FArticle%2F2478637%2Fgeneral-christopher-j-mahoney%2F |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=United States Marine Corps Flagship |language=en-US}} Lieutenant General Karsten Heckl was performing the duties of Commandant.

Awards and decorations

style="width:100%;"

valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable"

style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

! colspan="2" |U.S. military decorations

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Legion of Merit

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}21px22px

|Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device and one gold award star

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Purple Heart

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Meritorious Service ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Defense Meritorious Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Meritorious Service ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Meritorious Service Medal

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}}22px22px

|Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two award stars

{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award star

{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Combat Action Ribbon with gold award star

style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=2 |U.S. Unit Awards

{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg|width=106}}

|Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}}18px18px

|Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation

style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=2 |U.S. Service (Campaign) Medals and Service and Training Ribbons

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest_Asia_Service_Medal_ribbon_(1991–2016).svg|width=106}}18px18px

|Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze campaign stars

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Afghanistan Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}18px18px

|Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Iraq Campaign Medal with service star

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Armed Forces Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Humanitarian Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Humanitarian Service Medal

{{Ribbon devices|number=5|type=service-star|ribbon=Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service star

{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy_and_Marine_Corps_Overseas_Service_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze service star

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Marine Corps Recruiting Service Ribbon

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=NATO Medal ribbon (Non-Article 5).svg|106px}}

|NATO Medal for service with ISAF

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

|valign="top" |

class="wikitable"

style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

! colspan="2" |U.S. badges, patches and tabs

align=center | 100px

| align=center | Parachutist Badge

align=center | 100px

| align=center | Rifle Expert Badge (5th award)

align=center | 100px

| align=center | Pistol Expert Badge (5th award)

align=center | 90px

| align=center | Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

align=center | 90px

| align=center | Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge

References

External links

{{C-SPAN|135588}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commanding General to the United States Marine Corps Forces South|years=2015–2016}}

{{s-ttl|title=Senior Military Assistant to the United States Secretary of Defense|years=2016–2017}}

{{s-ttl|title=Assistant Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations of the United States Marine Corps|years=2017}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commanding General of the 1st Marine Division|years=2017–2018}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commanding General of the III Marine Expeditionary Force|years=2018–2019}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration of the United States Marine Corps
Commanding General of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command|years=2019–2021}}

{{s-ttl|title=Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps|years=2021–2023}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commandant of the Marine Corps|years=2023–present}}

{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
{{small|as Commandant of the Marine Corps}}|years=}}

{{s-aft|after=David W. Allvin|as=Chief of Staff of the Air Force}}

Category:Assistant Commandants of the United States Marine Corps

Category:United States Marine Corps Commandants

Category:Living people

Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)

Category:Texas A&M University alumni

Category:United States Marine Corps generals

Category:Military personnel from Kansas City, Missouri

Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Gulf War

Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War

Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)