BRIGADIER GENERAL STANLEY O. SMITH

Brigadier General Stanley O. Smith is chief of staff, Defense Mapping Agency, Fairfax, Va. The Defense Mapping Agency's mission is to enhance national security, and it supports the offices of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, unified and specified commands, military departments and other users. To do this, it produces and distributes timely and tailored mapping, charting and geodetic products, services and training, and advise on such matters. The agency also provides nautical charts and marine navigational data to worldwide merchant marine and private vessel operators.

General Smith was born in 1941, near Lawsonsville, N.C., and graduated from Stuart (Va.) High School in 1959. He received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1963 and a master of arts degree in management from Central Michigan University in 1974. He completed Air Command and Staff College in 1975, and the National War College in 1980.

Upon graduation from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He began flight training in October 1963 at Craig Air Force Base, Ala., earning his wings in October 1964. He then was assigned to the 454th Bombardment Wing at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. In June 1965 he deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, with Strategic Air Command's Arc Light forces and flew B-52 bombing missions over Vietnam. While at Columbus, General Smith completed three Arc Light tours in support of Southeast Asia operations.

In October 1968 the general transferred to the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. While assigned there, he served with the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Camp Evans, and flew 281 missions as a forward air controller in 0-2A's from October 1968 to August 1969.

General Smith then was assigned to the 524th Bombardment Squadron, 379th Bombardment Wing, Strategic Air Command, Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Mich., as a B-52H commander. He deployed to U-Tapao Royal Thai Naval Airfield, Thailand, in January 1971, again with SAC's Arc Light forces. There he completed his 150th combat mission in the B-52. While assigned to the 379th Bombardment Wing, the general served successively as a B-52H instructor pilot, B-52 Standardization and Evaluation Branch chief, wing Standardization and Evaluation Division chief, and 524th Bombardment Squadron operations officer.

In June 1975 General Smith was assigned to the Directorate of Plans, Strategic Forces Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He then served as executive officer to the director of plans from August 1977 to August 1979.

After completing the National War College in June 1980, the general was assigned to the 28th Bombardment Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., as 37th Bombardment Squadron commander. He served as assistant deputy commander for operations, 28th Bombardment Wing, from April 1981 to November 1981. He then was assigned as special assistant for B-1B matters to SAC's commander in chief, and as chief of the B-1 Division at Headquarters SAC, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

In December 1982 General Smith transferred to Loring Air Force Base, Maine, where he served initially as vice commander of the 42nd Bombardment Wing, and, in October 1983, became wing commander. He was assigned as deputy director for operations and training, Directorate of Operations, at Air Force headquarters in March 1985. The general served as deputy director for force development in the Directorate of Plans from March 1986 until May 1987, when he became deputy director for regional plans and policy, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations. In September 1987 he became commander of the 45th Air Division, Pease Air Force Base, N.H. He assumed his present position in June 1989.

The general is a command pilot with approximately 6,000 flying hours, including 1,655 combat hours accumulated during 431 combat missions. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 15 oak leaf clusters, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with nine service stars.

He was promoted to brigadier general March 1, 1988, with same date of rank.

(Current as of October 1989)