Major General Monroe T. Smith is deputy chief of staff, product assurance and acquisition logistics, Headquarters Air Force Systems Command, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
General Smith was born in 1931, in Glenwood, Ga., and graduated from Turkey Creek High School, Plant City, Fla., in 1948. He earned a bachelor of general education degree from the University of Omaha in 1966 and a master of science degree in public administration from The George Washington University in 1968. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1961, Air Command and Staff College in 1968, Air War College in 1973, the Advanced Management course at Carnegie-Mellon University in 1980 and the Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1983.
He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in February 1951 and served as a flightline crew chief until 1957. He then entered Officer Candidate School as a technical sergeant and, upon graduation, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in March 1958.
From April 1958 to December 1958 General Smith completed maintenance officer school at Chanute Air Force Base, Ill. In January 1959 he was assigned to the 4130th Strategic Wing, Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, as a flightline maintenance officer. From September 1961 to July 1964 the general served with the 577th Strategic Missile Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Okla. While there, he served as deputy commander of an Atlas F missile launch crew, then as crew commander and later as the senior instructor crew commander. In July 1964 he was assigned as a maintenance staff officer for policy and procedures, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. After graduating from Air Command and Staff College in July 1968, General Smith transferred to the 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing, Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, as the wing maintenance control officer.
The general served as a faculty instructor at the Air Command and Staff College from August 1969 to August 1972. He graduated from the Air War College in May 1973 and was assigned as commander, 22nd Organizational Maintenance Squadron, March Air Force Base, Calif. The general became a maintenance staff officer in the Aircraft Systems Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Systems and Logistics, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in September 1974. In January 1975 he was assigned as chief of executive services for the deputy chief of staff for systems and logistics. General Smith was selected as a research associate and attended Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Medford, Mass., from July 1975 to August 1976. He then became director for plans and industrial resources, Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
General Smith transferred to McClellan Air Force Base, Calif., in February 1978 as director of materiel management for the Sacramento Air Logistics Center. In March 1981 he was assigned as commander of the Defense Contract Administration Services Region, Los Angeles. General Smith returned in July 1982 to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he served as deputy chief of staff for maintenance at Air Force Logistics Command headquarters. In July 1983 the general became commander of the Air Force Acquisition Logistics Center. He assumed his present position in July 1985.
His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal with bronze clasp and three loops, National Defense Service Medal with service star, Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars, Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Short, Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with seven oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. General Smith wears the Senior Missile Badge and Master Aircraft Maintenance Munitions Badge.
He was promoted to major general Oct. 1, 1983, with date of rank Sept. 1, 1980.
(Current as of July 1987)