Eric Smith (general)

Lieutenant General
Eric M. Smith
Allegiance United States United States of America
Service/branch  United States Marine Corps
Rank lieutenant general
Unit III Marine Expeditionary Force
Commands held

First Marine Division

Marine Corps Forces Southern Command
Battles/wars Operation Enduring Freedom

Lieutenant General Eric M. Smith is the current commander of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, as well as U.S. Marine Corps Forces Japan.[1] [2]

Career

His former posts include commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. During this time, had several deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 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 the July to November of 2015, he commanded the Marine Corps Forces Southern Command in Miami, Florida. The he was transferred to the Pentagon to serve as the senior military assistant to the Secretary of Defense.[3][4]

He is the former commanding officer of the First Marine Division.[5] The First Marine Division is currently stationed in the Marine Corps Base in Camp Pendleton. It 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.[1]

He has also participayed in Operation Assured Response in Liberia.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "III MEF bids farewell to Nicholson, welcomes Smith as new commanding general". Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-02.
  2. ↑ Sgt. Matthew Bragg. "III MEF bids farewell to Nicholson, welcomes Smith as new commanding general". Stripes Okinawa. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Previous Assignments".
  4. ↑ "Smith, M Eric".
  5. ↑ "Storied 1st Marine Division Gets New Commander". Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  6. ↑ "First Marine Division". Retrieved 2018-03-03.
  7. ↑ "16 marines separated for hazing". Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  8. ↑ "PN1913 — Maj. Gen. Eric M. Smith — Marine Corps". U.S. Congress. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  9. ↑ "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  10. ↑ "Lieutenant General Eric M. Smith Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force; and Commander, Marine Forces Japan". Marines. Retrieved Sep 15, 2018.


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