George William Smith Jr. is a retiredlieutenant general in theUnited States Marine Corps who last served as commander of theI Marine Expeditionary Force from September 2021 to August 2023.^[1][2][3] He most recently served as the Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations until August 2021.^[4] He previously served as Senior Military Assistant to theUnited States Secretary of Defense, a position for which he was nominated byJames Mattis in September 2018.^[5][6] He was commissioned in 1985 after graduating from theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, through a NavalROTC program.^[7] He is the son ofGeorge W. Smith, who was a major general in the Marine Corps.

George W. Smith Jr.
Smith in 2019
Allegiance	United States
Service/ branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1985–2023
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	I Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center The Basic School 1st Force Reconnaissance Company
Battles / wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal (3)
Relations	George W. Smith (father)

Smith was commissioned in theUnited States Marine Corps as asecond lieutenant in 1985 following graduation from the NROTC program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Smith graduated fromThe Basic School and the Infantry Officers Course, then reported to2nd Battalion, 1st Marines where he served as a rifle platoon commander and later as the 81 mm Mortar Platoon Commander. He then transferred to1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, serving as Logistics Officer and Rifle Company Commander. He has served staff billets includingSeries and Company Commander,Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego; Inspector-Instructor, 4th Force Reconnaissance Company; Future Operations Planner, I Marine Expeditionary Force G-3 and G-5; and Deputy Operations Officer,1st Marine Division. As a lieutenant colonel, Smith assumed command of1st Force Reconnaissance Company, during which he deployed twice in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom. From 2007 to 2010, Smith was the Commanding Officer,The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia.

As a General Officer, Smith served as Commanding General,Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California; Deputy Commander, Regional Command Southwest in Helmand Province, Afghanistan; Deputy Commanding General,Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia; Director, Manpower Plans and Policy Division, Quantico, Virginia, Director, Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate,United States Central Command, MacDill AFB, Florida, and most recently as the Senior Military Assistant to theSecretary of Defense. He assumed his duties as Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations from August 2019 to August 2021.