Brigadier
General Benton (Chick) M. Smith is the assistant adjutant general, Headquarters,
New Hampshire Air National Guard, State Military Reservation, Concord, N.H. He
also serves as the commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard which
consists of a 25-member headquarters element and the 157th Air Refueling Wing, a
unit consisting of 1,000 guardsmen with nine assigned KC-135 aircraft. The Wing
mission is to provide world-wide refueling capability to active duty and reserve
force aircraft.
The general began his military career by enlisting in the Air Force in 1966. He received his commission through Officer Candidate School, graduating in February 1967 as a distinguished graduate. He began his military career as a logistics officer working the FB-11 program and subsequently assumed other positions with the logistics career field. He left active duty in 1972 and joined the New Hampshire Air National Guard in 1980, where he served in a number of capacities prior to his selection as the assistant adjutant general for air in August 2001.
1965 Bachelor of arts degree in business administration, St. Michael's College, Winooski Park, Vt.
1973 Master of arts degree in education, Springfield College, Springfield, Mass.
1984 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1988 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1992 Air War College, by correspondence
1. February 1967 - February 1970, logistics officer, Headquarters Sacramento Air
Materiel Area, McClellan Air Force Base, Calif.
2 February 1970 - August 1970, management analysis officer, Headquarters
Sacramento Air Materiel Area, McClellan Air Force Base, Calif.
3. August 1970 - June 1972, aide-de-camp, Headquarters Sacramento Air Materiel
Area, McClellan Air Force Base, Calif.
4. June 1972 - August 1981, inactive status (ISLRS), Headquarters Air Reserve
Personnel Center, Denver, Colo.
5. August 1981 - September 1984, executive support officer, 157th Air Refueling
Group, Pease Air Force Base, N.H.
6. October 1984 - July 1985, public affairs officer, 157th Air Refueling Group,
Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H.
7. July 1985 - December 1986, personnel programs staff officer, Headquarters New
Hampshire Air National Guard, Concord, N.H.
8. December 1986 - December 1988, personnel programs staff officer, 157th
Mission Support Squadron, Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H.
9. January 1989 - February 1992, executive support staff officer, Headquarters
New Hampshire Air National Guard, Concord, N.H.
10. February 1992 - October 1993, human resource officer, Headquarters New
Hampshire Air National Guard, Concord, N.H.
11. November 1993 - August 2001, executive support staff officer, Headquarters
New Hampshire Air National Guard, Concord, N.H.
12. August 2001 - present, assistant adjutant general, Headquarters New
Hampshire Air National Guard, Concord, N.H.
Meritorious Service Medal with one device
Air Force Commendation Medal with one device
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two devices
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two devices
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Air Force Longevity Service Award with four devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Air Force Training Ribbon with one device
New Hampshire National Guard Commendation Medal
New Hampshire National Guard Service Bar with state seal
President, Concord American Little League
President, International Association of Approved Basketball Officials, Board 32
Volunteer Mediation, N.H. Mediation Program
Vice Chair, Air National Guard Executive Support Staff Officers Council
Member, Air National Guard Integrated Planning Process
Second Lieutenant Feb 6, 1967
First Lieutenant Aug 6, 1968
Captain Aug 11, 1979
Major Feb 20, 1986
Lieutenant Colonel Feb 21, 1990
Colonel Mar 6, 1993
Brigadier General Aug 5, 2001
(Current as of December 2001)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.