Leighton W. Smith, Jr.

Leighton W. "Snuffy" Smith, Jr. was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy. In 1994, he became the Commander in Chief of U. S Naval Forces Europe and Allied Forces Southern Europe. The following year he additionally took on command of the NATO-led Implementation Force, (IFOR) in Bosnia. He held all three positions until his retirement in 1996.

Military career

Smith, born in Mobile, Alabama, graduated from the Naval Academy with the Class of 1962 and received his wings in January 1964.

As a naval aviator, Admiral Smith flew carrier based, light attack jet aircraft during multiple deployments to the Mediterranean, North Atlantic, Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. These included three cruises in waters off North Vietnam where he flew over 280 combat missions primarily in the A-7 Corsair II. Smith has held command at sea in the aviation community at squadron and wing levels as well as major commands that included a deep draft vessel before taking command of the aircraft carrier USS America and subsequent command of a carrier battle group as a flag officer. He has logged over 4,200 flying hours and accumulated over 1000 carrier arrested landings.

Military commands

His early flag officer tours were Director for Operations, U. S. European Command, (1989-1991) and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Plans, Policy and Operations, (1991-1994). Appointed to four star rank in April 1994, he became Commander in Chief, U. S Naval Forces Europe and Commander in Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe (1994-1996). In December 1995, he assumed, concurrently, command of the NATO-led Implementation Force, (IFOR) in Bosnia, a position he held until August 1996.

Post-military life

Admiral Smith retired from the United States Navy on 1 October 1996. He is currently serving as a Senior Fellow at the Center for Naval Analysis, is President of Leighton Smith Associates and Vice President of Global Perspectives, Inc., both international consulting firms. He is Chairman of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, immediate past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the U. S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and serves on the Executive Committee of the Association of Naval Aviation. He is also on the National Advisory Council to the Navy League and is a member of the Board of Directors of several corporations.

Smith is a supporter of Presidential candidate John McCain during the 2008 United States Presidential Election. Smith spoke out in defense of McCain after critical comments from General Wesley Clark regarding McCain's military experience. [http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/30/clark.mccain/index.html] . Prior to his retirement, Smith had previously served alongside General Clark for several years during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Citations

*Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2 Awards)
*Navy Distinguished Service Medal
*Legion of Merit (3 Awards)
*Distinguished Flying Cross (2 Awards)
*Meritorious Service Medal (2 Awards)
*Air Medal (29 Awards)
*Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary
*French Order of National Merit with the rank of Grand Officer
*Honorary Knight of the British Empire, awarded personally by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

Excerpts from Admiral Smith

Smith discusses military forces in the Balkans: [ [http://www.afsouth.nato.int/transcripts/AdmLeighton170796.htm AFSOUTH Transcript ] ]

ee also

References

"Adapted from [http://www.tenix.com/Main.asp?ID=865 this biography] ."