Maj. Gen. David W. Smith is the Deputy to the Chief of Air Force Reserve, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He assists the Chief of Air Force Reserve who serves as the Principal Adviser on Reserve matters to the Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff. He facilitates matters pertaining to the oversight of Air Force Reserve appropriations for personnel, operations and maintenance, and construction programs for a force of more than 70,000 personnel. As Deputy, he often represents the Chief with other Air Staff agencies in the formulation and development of plans, policies and programs affecting the Air Force Reserve. Maj. Gen. Smith assists the Chief in developing the organizational architecture of the Air Force Reserve in accordance with wartime requirements and budget realities. During mobilization, he advises Air Force oļ¬cials on capabilities and issues related to mobilization of the Air Force Reserve to plans and policies for recall.
Maj. Gen. Smith earned his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1992. He served on Active Duty until 2002 and subsequently transitioned to the Air Force Reserve. During his Air Force career, Maj. Gen. Smith has commanded at the squadron, group and wing level. He is a combat-proven command pilot who has deployed in support of operations Enduring Freedom, three tours supporting Iraqi Freedom, Allied Force, Northern Watch, Southern Watch and Noble Eagle, a career totaling more than 4,000 flying hours and 700 combat hours.
Prior to his current position, Maj. Gen. Smith was the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science, Social Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Master of Strategic Studies, Air University, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 North Atlantic Treaty Organization Senior Officer Policy Course, NATO School, Oberammergau, Germany
2017 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2017 NATO Senior Reserve Officer Course, NATO School, Oberammergau, Germany
2019 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2019 Seminar XXI, Center for International Studies, Massachusetts Institute for Technology, Washington, D.C.
2020 Combined Forces Air Component Commander Course, LeMay Center, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Safety Board President Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2022 Artificial Intelligence for National Security, Massachusetts Institute for Technology, Sloan School of Management, Boston, Mass.
2023 Negotiation Strategies; Building Agreement Across Boundaries, Harvard University, Kennedy School of Management, Boston, Mass.
2023 Senior Executives in National and International Security, Harvard University, Kennedy School of Management, Boston, Mass.
2024 Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander Course, Naval War College, Miami, Fla.
2025 Leading Data and AI-Enabled Organizations, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1992–May 1993, Instructor, Athletic Department, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2. May 1993–May 1994, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
3. May 1994–May 1997, Standardization and Evaluations Pilot, KC-135R/T, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
4. May 1997–June 1998, Student, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. June 1998–May 2001, Flight Commander, 78th Fighter Squadron, F-16CJ, Shaw AFB, S.C.
6. May 2001–December 2002, Special Assistant to Commander, T-38C/AT-38B, IFF IP, Moody AFB, Ga.
7. December 2002–September 2006, Chief of Scheduling and Plans, F-16C+ IP, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla.
8. September 2006–September 2008, Assistant Director of Operations, 93rd FS, Homestead ARB, Fla.
9. September 2008–July 2010, Commander, 93rd FS, Homestead ARB, Fla.
10. July 2010–July 2011, Student Senior Developmental Education In-Residence, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. July 2011–April 2013, Air Domain Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
12. May 2013–October 2013, Deputy Command Center Director, NORAD, Peterson AFB, Colo.
13. October 2013–June 2014, Deputy Commander, 451st Air Expeditionary Group, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
14. June 2014–November 2015, Commander, 482nd Operations Group, Homestead ARB, Fla.
15. November 2015–April 2018, Commander, 419th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah
16. April 2018–March 2020, Mobilization Assistant to the Director, Operational Capability Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. March 2020–April 2022, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central), Southwest Asia
18. April 2022–April 2023, Director, Air Force Reserve Plans, Programs and Requirements, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. April 2023–May 2024, Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
20. May 2024–May 2025, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
21. May 2025–present, Deputy to the Chief of Air Force Reserve, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2011–April 2013, Air Domain Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., as a lieutenant colonel
2. April 2013–October 2013, Deputy Command Center Director, NORAD, Peterson AFB, Colo., as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot, instructor pilot
Flying hours: more than 4,000 including more than 700 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38A, KC-135R/T, F-16CJ, AT-38B, T-38C, F-16C+, MC-12W, F-16CM and F-35A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze star
Kosovo Campaign Medal with bronze star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three bronze stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with three ‘M’ devices
NATO Medal