Brig. Gen. Kirk Smith is the Deputy Commanding General-Operations, NATO Special Operations Component Command/Special Operations Joint Task Force - Afghanistan, Bagram, Afghanistan. He oversees operations for all U.S. and NATO special operations forces in Afghanistan.

General Smith graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1989. After completing undergraduate pilot training, he remained at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, as a T-37 instructor pilot. Following MH-53J qualification, he completed multiple operational flying assignments to include squadron command. General Smith has been assigned to major command, air staff and joint level staffs. 

Prior to assuming his current position, General Smith was Director, Force Management and development, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla. 

EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1996 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
2001 Master of Science in International Relations, Troy State University, Ala. 
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
2010 National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1989 - June 1990, Student, undergraduate pilot training, Columbus AFB, Miss. 
2. June 1990 - June 1994, T-37 Instructor Pilot, 37th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, Miss. 
3. June 1994 - March 1995, Student, MH-53J Mission Pilot Qualification Course, 551st Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M. 
4. March 1995 - November 1998, MH-53J Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, 21st Special Operations Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England 
5. November 1998 - July 2001, MH-53M Evaluator Pilot and Executive Officer, 16th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 
6. July 2001 - July 2003, Chief, Senior Officer Matters, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 
7. July 2003 - May 2004, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
8. May 2004 - September 2005, Chief, Washington D.C. Rated/Joint Colonel Assignments, Air Force Senior Leader Management Office, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
9. September 2005 - October 2007, Commander, 21st Special Operations Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England  
10. October 2007 - July 2009, Chief, Personnel Support Division, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 
11. July 2009 - June 2010, Student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2010 – September 2011, Vice Commander, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon AFB, N.M.
13. September 2011 - July 2012, Commander, Joint Special Operations Aviation Detachment–Afghanistan, Bagram, Afghanistan
14. July 2012 - August 2014, Special Assistant and Director, Commander’s Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
15. August 2014 - June 2016, Director, Strategic Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
16. June 2016 - March 2017, Director, Force Management and Development, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
17. March 2017 - present, Deputy Commanding General-Operations, NATO Special Operations Component Command/Special Operations Joint Task Force - Afghanistan, Bagram, Afghanistan

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
September 2011 - July 2012, Commander, Joint Special Operations Aviation Detachment - Afghanistan, Bagram, Afghanistan as a colonel 
July 2012 - August 2014, Special Assistant and Director, Commander’s Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla., as a colonel 
June 2016 - March 2017, Director, Force Management and Development, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla., as a brigadier general
March 2017 - present, Deputy Commanding General-Operations, NATO Special Operations Component Command/Special Operations Joint Task Force - Afghanistan, Bagram, Afghanistan, as a brigadier general

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight Hours: 3,395
Aircraft Flown: T-37B, T-38A, UH-1H, MH-53J and MH-53M

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit Medal with oak leaf cluster  
Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster 
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters  
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster  
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters  
Air Force Commendation Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 1989
First Lieutenant May 31, 1991
Captain May 31, 1993
Major Sept. 1, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2005
Colonel Sept. 1, 2009
Brigadier General Dec. 3, 2014
(Current as of April 2017)