Colonel William C. Smith is the Deputy Commander, 501st Combat Support Wing, U.S. Air Forces Europe, headquartered at RAF Fairford, United Kingdom. He is responsible for eight installations located in the United Kingdom and Norway, serving a community of more than 14,000 military service members, civilians, and local nationals. The wing provides agile combat support to enable Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance; Global Strike; and Command and Control missions for U.S. and NATO operations.
Col Smith commissioned as a 2d Lt through Georgia Tech University ROTC in 2003 after receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University. He has over 20 years active duty experience in various operational and staff assignments. Col Smith deployed twice in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and has commanded four times at the squadron level. Prior to his current assignment, Col Smith was the Chief, Operations and Training Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Directorate of Security Forces.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice, Georgia State University, Atlanta
2004 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Master of Arts Degree, International Relations, University of Oklahoma, Norman
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Master of Arts Degree, Defense and Strategic Studies, College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
2020 National Defense Fellow, International Security Program and The Project for Managing the Atom, Belfer Center, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2023 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, The University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS
1.September 2003–December 2006, Antiterrorism/Force Protection Officer/Assistant Operations Officer; OIC, Training &Resources Flight; Operations Officer, 17th Security Forces Squadron, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas (August 2005–March 2006, Theatre Internment Facility Battle Captain, 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Camp Bucca, Iraq)
2.January 2007–February 2010, Flight Commander; Section Commander; Operations Officer, 31st Security ForcesSquadron, Aviano AB, Italy (August 2008–March 2009, OIC, Joint Defense Operations Center, 332d Expeditionary SecurityForces Group, Joint Base Balad, Iraq)
3.February 2010–May 2012, Chief, Nuclear Security Policy Branch, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB,Germany
4.May 2012–May 2013, Action Officer, Commander’s Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe-U.S. Air ForcesAfrica, Ramstein AB, Germany
5.May 2013–July 2015, Commander, 377th Security Forces Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
6.July 2015–June 2016, Student, College of Naval Command and Staff, Newport, R.I.
7.June 2016–June 2017, Commander, 39th Security Forces Squadron, Incirlik AB, Turkey
8.July 2017–July 2019, Commander, 55th Security Forces Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
9.July 2019–June 2020, National Defense Fellow, International Security Program and The Project for Managing the Atom,Belfer Center, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
10.July 2020-April 2022, Chief, Nuclear Security Policy Branch; Chief, Security Forces Operations Branch, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. (March 2021–Jun 2021, Commander, 100th Security Forces Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom)
11.April 2022–June 2023, Chief, Operations and Training Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington,D.C.
12.June 2023–Present, Deputy Commander, 501st Combat Support Wing, RAF Fairford, United Kingdom
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Bronze Excellence in Competition, Rifle
Bronze Excellence in Competition, Pistol
Netherlands Cross for Marching Proficiency, Bronze
German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency, Gold
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug. 21, 2003
First Lieutenant Sept. 2, 2005
Captain Sept. 2, 2007
Major Dec. 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 1, 2016
Colonel April 1, 2022
(Current as of March 2024)