Eric Smith (general)

Eric Smith
Born	1964or1965(age 58–59) Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1987–present
Rank	General
Commands held	Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps 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 (2) Purple Heart
Alma mater	Texas A&M University (BA)

Eric M. Smith (born 1964 or 1965) ^[1] is a United States Marine Corps general who has served as the 39th commandant of the Marine Corps since 22 September 2023. ^{[2] [3]} 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. ^{[4] [5]}

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. ^[6] 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. ^[7]

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. ^[7] Then he was transferred to the Pentagon to serve as the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense. ^{[8] [9]}

As a major general, Smith assumed command of the First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton. ^[10] The division is part of the larger I Marine Expeditionary Force. ^[11] As commander, he led a hazing crackdown but was rebuked by a military judge. ^[12]

In May 2018, Smith was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general, ^[13] and assignment as commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force. ^[14] He received his promotion and assumed command of III MEF in August 2018. ^[15]

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. ^[16] 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; ^{[17] [18] [19]} his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee was held on 13 June 2023. ^[20] 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. ^{[21] [22]} He was confirmed by a unanimous 96-0 vote on 21 September 2023, and sworn in on 22 September. ^{[23] [24]}

Smith is sworn in as the 39th commandant of the Marine Corps by Carlos Del Toro, secretary of the Navy, on 22 September 2023.

On October 29, 2023, Smith was hospitalized after a medical emergency. ^[25] Smith was diagnosed with cardiac arrest. On November 9, 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". ^[26] 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 the 3rd of November, ^[27] Lieutenant General Karsten Heckl was performing the duties of Commandant.

Awards and decorations

U.S. military decorations Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device and one gold award star Purple Heart Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two award stars Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award star Combat Action Ribbon with gold award star U.S. Unit Awards Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation U.S. Service (Campaign) Medals and Service and Training Ribbons National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze campaign stars Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars Iraq Campaign Medal with service star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service star Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze service star Marine Corps Recruiting Service Ribbon NATO Medal for service with ISAF Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

U.S. badges, patches and tabs Parachutist Badge Rifle Expert Badge (5th award) Pistol Expert Badge (5th award) Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge

References

1. Lamothe, Dan (31 May 2023). "Biden nominates No. 2 Marine Corps officer to lead service". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
2. Loewenson, Irene (23 September 2023). "Top Marine leader sworn in 1 day after Senate confirmation". Marine Corps Times . Retrieved 23 September 2023.
3. "The Marine Corps finally gets an official top leader". 21 September 2023.
4. "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
5. "PN596 — Lt. Gen. Eric M. Smith — Marine Corps". U.S. Congress. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
6. "Lieutenant General Eric M. Smith Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force; and Commander, Marine Forces Japan". Marines. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
7. Hodge Seck, Hope (30 June 2015). 1-star becomes first dedicated commander of Marine Forces South. Military Times . Retrieved 22 September 2023.
8. "Previous Assignments". 24 June 2017.
9. "Smith, M Eric".
10. "Storied 1st Marine Division Gets New Commander". 24 June 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
11. "First Marine Division" . Retrieved 3 March 2018.
12. "16 marines separated for hazing" . Retrieved 18 March 2018.
13. "PN1913 — Maj. Gen. Eric M. Smith — Marine Corps". U.S. Congress. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
14. "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
15. "III MEF bids farewell to Nicholson, welcomes Smith as new commanding general". Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
16. "PN818 — Lt. Gen. Eric M. Smith — Marine Corps". U.S. Congress. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
17. Lamothe, Dan (30 May 2023). "Biden expected to nominate No. 2 Marine Corps officer to lead service". The Washington Post . Retrieved 31 May 2023.
18. "PN691 — Gen. Eric M. Smith — Marine Corps, 118th Congress (2023-2024)". U.S. Congress. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
19. "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
20. "Confirmation Hearing of Gen Eric M. Smith, USMC, to be Commandant of the Marine Corps". Senate Armed Services Committee. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
21. Seligman, Lara; O'Brien, Connor; Gould, Joe (13 June 2023). "Tuberville hold scrambles Marines' plans for top officer's retirement". Politico . Retrieved 10 July 2023.
22. "Webcast: Commandant of the Marine Corps Relinquishment of Office Ceremony". DVIDS. 10 July 2023.
23. Gould, Joe (21 September 2023). "Senate confirms Army and Marine chiefs, bucking Tuberville logjam". Politico . Retrieved 22 September 2023.
24. Loewenson, Irene (23 September 2023). "Top Marine leader sworn in 1 day after Senate confirmation". Marine Corps Times . Retrieved 23 September 2023.
25. "UPDATED: CMC Eric Smith Hospitalized After Heart Attack". Archived from the original on 31 October 2023.
26. Loewenson, Irene (9 November 2023). "Top Marine, recovering from cardiac arrest, plans to return to work". Marine Times . Retrieved 9 November 2023.
27. "General Christopher J. Mahoney". United States Marine Corps Flagship. Retrieved 26 November 2023.

Military offices
Preceded by David W. Coffman	Commanding General to the United States Marine Corps Forces South 2015–2016	Succeeded by Kevin Iiams
Preceded by Ronald F. Lewis	Senior Military Assistant to the United States Secretary of Defense 2016–2017	Succeeded by Craig S. Faller
Preceded by J. Scott O'Meara	Assistant Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations of the United States Marine Corps 2017	Succeeded by Christopher J. Mahoney
Preceded by Daniel J. O'Donohue	Commanding General of the 1st Marine Division 2017–2018	Succeeded by Robert F. Castellvi
Preceded by Lawrence D. Nicholson	Commanding General of the III Marine Expeditionary Force 2018–2019	Succeeded by H. Stacy Clardy
Preceded by David H. Berger	Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration of the United States Marine Corps Commanding General of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command 2019–2021	Succeeded by Karsten Heckl
Preceded by Gary L. Thomas	Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps 2021–2023	Succeeded by Christopher J. Mahoney
Preceded by David H. Berger	Commandant of the Marine Corps 2023–present	Incumbent
Order of precedence
Preceded by Randy A. George as Chief of Staff of the Army	Order of precedence of the United States as Commandant of the Marine Corps	Succeeded by Lisa M. Franchetti as Chief of Naval Operations