National Guard
Major General MATTHEW D. SMITH
  
Special Assistant to the Director, Army National Guard
Arlington, VA
Retired
 Official Photo
SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE  ROTC

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
University of Delaware - BS - Business Administration
Emory University - MBA - Marketing
United States Army War College - MSS - Strategic Studies

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED
Joint & Combined Warfighting School (JCWS) JPME-II
United States Army War College
Brigade Pre-Command/Command Sergeant Major
Maneuver Brigade Pre-Command Course
Army Senior Leader Development Seminar (SLDS)
General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar (GFOS)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE(S)  None Recorded

PROMOTIONS DATE OF APPOINTMENT
2LT 29 May 93
1LT 29 May 95
CPT 10 Oct 97
MAJ 23 Jan 04
LTC 25 Nov 08
COL 25 Jun 14
BG 7 Dec 19
MG 13 Dec 22

FROM TO ASSIGNMENT
Dec 24 Feb 25 Special Assistant to the Director, Army National Guard, Arlington, Virginia
Jan 23 Dec 24 Commander, Joint Task Force North, USNORTHCOM, Fort Bliss, Texas
Feb 22 Jan 23 Vice Director, Operations Directorate, J-3/4/7, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
Dec 19 Jan 22 Deputy Director of Operations, Readiness, and Mobilization, HQDA G-3/5/7, Washington, District of Columbia
Dec 16 Dec 19 Commander, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Macon, Georgia and OPERATION RESOLUTE SUPPORT, Afghanistan
Dec 14 Nov 16 Division Chief, National Guard Bureau J-81, The Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia
Dec 11 Nov 14 Deputy Commander, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Macon, Georgia
Oct 10 Nov 11 Deputy G3, Joint Force Headquarters Georgia, Marietta, Georgia
May 08 Sep 10 Commander, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry, Winder, Georgia and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan
Aug 06 Apr 08 S-1, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Macon, Georgia
Apr 05 Jul 06 Operations Officer, 78th Troop Command, Decatur, Georgia
Oct 03 Mar 05 Executive Officer, 221st Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Gillem, Georgia
Jun 02 Sep 03 Commander, H Company, 121st Infantry (Airborne) (Long Range Surveillance), Fort Gillem, Georgia and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq
Sep 01 May 02 Operations Officer, Headquarters Company, 221st Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Gillem, Georgia
Jun 00 Aug 01 Commander, Headquarters Company, 221st Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Gillem, Georgia
Sep 99 May 00 Communications Electronics Officer, Headquarters Company, 221st Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Gillem, Georgia
Oct 97 Aug 99 Commander, H Company, 121st Infantry (Airborne) (Long Range Surveillance), Newnan, Georgia
Feb 97 Sep 97 Assistant Operations Officer, H Company, 121st Infantry (Airborne) (Long Range Surveillance), Newnan, Georgia
Feb 96 Jan 97 Signal Platoon Leader, H Company, 121st Infantry (Airborne) (Long Range Surveillance), Newnan, Georgia
Aug 94 Jan 96 Platoon Leader, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry, Fort Stewart, Georgia and OPERATION VIGILANT WARRIOR, Kuwait
Sep 93 Jul 94 Student, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia
Jun 93 Aug 93 Advanced Camp Cadre, Cadet Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE
Commander, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, OPERATION RESOLUTE SUPPORT, Afghanistan Dec 18 - Jul 19 Colonel
Commander, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan Jun 09 - Mar 10 Lieutenant Colonel
Commander, H Company, 121st Infantry (Airborne) (Long Range Surveillance), OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq Apr 03 - Sep 03 Captain
Platoon Leader, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry, OPERATION VIGILANT WARRIOR, Kuwait Oct 94 - Nov 94 Second Lieutenant

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES
Defense Superior Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Legion of Merit (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Bronze Star Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Silver and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Southwest Asia Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with 3 Bronze Service Stars)
Iraq Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass, “M” Devie)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Georgia Distinctive Service Medal
Georgia Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Boar’s Head)
Georgia Commendation Medal
Georgia Special Operations Ribbon (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
Georgia National Guard Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Boar’s Head)
Combat Infantryman Badge
Ranger Tab
Pathfinder Badge
Air Assault Badge
Senior Parachutist Badge
Columbian Parachutist Badge
The Army Staff Identification Badge
National Guard Bureau Staff Identification Badge
Bronze Medal of the Polish Army

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
National Eagle Scout Association, Life Member
National Guard Association of Georgia, Life Member
Association of the United States Army, Life Member

 

 

As of: 31 Mar 25

 

The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.