Retired effective 26 Sep 01
Brigadier General Ralph S. Smith is the
Assistant Adjutant General for Air and Commander of the West Virginia Air National Guard.
The West Virginia Air National Guard has over 2,000 members, and consists of two C-130
flying units, the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston, WV and the 167th
Airlift Wing in Martinsburg, WV. As Assistant Adjutant General for Air and Commander, he
is the principal advisor to The Adjutant General on all matters related to the Air
National Guard. He provides command and control over all Air National Guard forces
assigned to the State of West Virginia and is responsible for the operation of the
Headquarters administrative function to include coordination of state-level communication
with the National Guard Bureau. He directs the Headquarters staff assistance to both the
130th and 167th Airlift Wings.
Brigadier General Smith received a direct commission as a First Lieutenant following graduation from Medical School at Northwestern University, Medical Internship at Evanston Hospital, Psychiatric Residency and a Fellowship in Child Psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati. Prior to his assignment as the Assistant Adjutant General for Air, he served as a Psychiatrist, Aerospace Medicine Physician, Flight Surgeon, Medical Squadron Commander, and State Air Surgeon.
1963 Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Medicine, West Virginia University
1966 Doctorate in Medicine, Northwestern University
1989 Master of Arts in Business Administration, University of Charleston
1996 Master of Arts in Communication, West Virginia University
1994 Air War College, Correspondence
1. 15 October 71 ' 12 June 74, Psychiatrist, Clark AFB, Philippines
2. 13 June 74 ' 30 April 75, Psychiatrist, ARPC (NARS)
3. 1 May 75 ' 27 April 87, Aerospace Medicine Physician/Commander, 130th
Tac Clinic West Virginia Air National Guard, Charleston, WV
4. 28 April 87 ' 29 May 97, State Air Surgeon, Headquarters, West Virginia Air
National Guard, Charleston, WV
5. 30 May 97 ' Present, Assistant Adjutant General for Air/Commander, Headquarters,
West Virginia Air National Guard, Charleston, WV
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one device
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with five devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Second Lieutenant N/A
First Lieutenant 8 October 1966
Captain 11 June 1969
Major 15 October 1971
Lieutenant Colonel 5 August 1978
Colonel 7 August 1982
Brigadier General 2 March 1998
(Current as of December 1998)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.