Kirk W. Smith

Last updated

Kirk W. Smith
Lt Gen Kirk W. Smith.jpg
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1989–present
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held Special Operations Command Europe
21st Special Operations Squadron
Battles/wars War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Awards Defense Superior Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (3) with "C" device
Bronze Star Medal (2)

Kirk William Smith [1] is a United States Air Force lieutenant general currently serving as the deputy commander of the United States Africa Command. Prior to that, he was the commander of the Special Operations Command Europe of the United States European Command. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Awards and decorations

COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
United States Air Force Parachutist Badge.svg Basic Parachutist Badge
Seal of the United States Africa Command.svg United States Africa Command Badge
Headquarters US Air Force Badge.png Headquarters Air Force Badge
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Defense Superior Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg 'C' Device.png Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Legion of Merit with "C" device and two oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze Star Medal ribbon.svg
Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Medal ribbon.svg
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation ribbon.svg Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Meritorious Unit ribbon.svg Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg "V" device, brass.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (second ribbon to denote fifth award)
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Organizational Excellence ribbon.svg
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with service star
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Kosovo Campaign Medal ribbon.svg
Kosovo Campaign Medal with service star
Afghanistan Campaign ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
Iraq Campaign ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Iraq Campaign Medal with two service stars
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Humanitarian Service Medal with two service stars
AF OS Short Tour Ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
AF OS Tour Ribbon.svg
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame.png Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and four oak leaf clusters
Longevity Service Award USAF.svg Silver oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star
Air Force Training Ribbon.svg Air Force Training Ribbon
NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with three service stars

Effective dates of promotions [2]

RankDate
US Air Force O1 shoulderboard rotated.svg Second Lieutenant May 31, 1989
US Air Force O2 shoulderboard rotated.svg First Lieutenant May 31, 1991
US Air Force O3 shoulderboard rotated.svg Captain May 31, 1993
US Air Force O4 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major September 1, 2000
US Air Force O5 shoulderboard rotated.svg Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2005
US Air Force O6 shoulderboard rotated.svg Colonel September 1, 2009
US Air Force O7 shoulderboard rotated.svg Brigadier General December 3, 2014
US Air Force O8 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major General July 3, 2018
US Air Force O9 shoulderboard rotated.svg Lieutenant General August 4, 2020


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References

  1. "Class of 1989". United States Air Force Academy Association of Graduates. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Lieutenant General Kirk Smith (USAF)". U.S. Air Force. August 2, 2021. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. "Special operations troops in Europe get a new boss".
  4. "Special operations troops get a new boss in Stuttgart".

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates  public domain material from websites or documents ofthe United States Government .

Military offices
Preceded by
Albert Elton
Director of Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements of the Air Force Special Operations Command
2014–2016
Succeeded by
Sean M. Farrell
Preceded by
Stephen A. Clark
Director of Force Management and Development of the United States Special Operations Command
2016–2017
Succeeded by
???
Preceded by
Antonio Fletcher
Deputy Commanding General for Operations of NATO Special Operations Component Command and Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan
2017–2018
Succeeded by
Otto K. Liller
Preceded by
Mark C. Schwartz
Commander of Special Operations Command Europe
2018–2020
Succeeded by
David H. Tabor
Preceded by
James C. Vechery
Deputy Commander of the United States Africa Command
2020–present
Incumbent