RADM STEVE SMITH
Director for Strategic Planning and Policy
Rear Admiral Steve Smith is from Brielle, New Jersey. He completed four years of Army ROTC and graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy in 1964. Attending the University of Texas at Austin on a Navy ROTC scholarship, he graduated in 1969 with a Bachelors degree in Industrial Management.
Early assignments included USS UHLMANN (DD 687), Boat Support Unit ONE/Coastal River Squadron ONE, USS DALE (CG 19), USS CLAUDE V RICKETTS (DDG 5) and the Staff of Commander Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-ONE. While assigned to Boat Support Unit ONE he served in the Mekong Delta area of Vietnam with the Naval Special Warfare Group as a SEAL Team Boat Detachment Officer in Charge.
Rear Admiral Smith was Executive Officer of USS HORNE (CG 30), and commanded USS CHANDLER (DDG 996). While in command of CHANDLER he was an EARNEST WILL Convoy Commander and Sector Anti-Air Warfare Commander in the Arabian Gulf during the height of the "Tanker Wars". He commanded the AEGIS cruiser USS MOBILE BAY (CG 53), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan from 1992 to 1994 and was the Anti-Air Warfare Commander for the USS INDEPENDENCE Battle Group. During his command MOBILE BAY earned the Battle Efficiency Award and Commander SEVENTH Fleet Anti-Air and Anti-Surface Warfare Awards. MOBILE BAY was also awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation for putting out a large container ship fire on a U.S. merchant ship in the harbor of Pusan, Korea.
He has done graduate work toward a Master’s degree in World Politics at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and holds a Master’s degree in National Security Affairs and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. His paper, "Naval Operations in the Third World," earned first honorable mention in the 1991 Naval War College annual essay competition.
In shore assignments, Rear Admiral Smith has served as a LCDR Assignment Officer, Assistant CAPT Assignment Officer, Head of Surface Warfare Officer Training and Professional Development on the staff of the DCNO (Surface Warfare), Instructor at Tactical Training Group Pacific, Assistant Chief of Staff for Manpower and Personnel (N-1) on the Staff of the Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet, and Executive Assistant to the Chief of Naval Personnel. He was the Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and as Flag Officer served as Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Plans, Policy, and Operations. Rear Admiral Smith served as Commander of Amphibious Group THREE from January 1999 to July 2000. Rear Admiral Smith assumed duties as the Director for Strategic Planning and Policy, Headquarters, United States Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii on 17 July 2000.
Rear Admiral Smith has been awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, four Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars (with combat "V"), two Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy Commendation Medals, the Combat Action Ribbon, and various Campaign/Service Medals and unit awards.
