Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders

    HomeAbout UsBiographiesDisplay      Craig A. SmithEngage OnFacebook PostsYour browser is incompatible with this widget.
                        
                        View on Twitter
        
        Craig A. SmithCRAIG A. SMITHMr. Craig A. Smith, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Principal Deputy General Counsel of the Air Force. He is the Senior Civilian Career Attorney in the Air Force and provides oversight, guidance and direction regarding legal advice on matters within the Department of the Air Force.
Mr. Smith spent nearly 30 years as an active-duty Air Force judge advocate. He last served as the senior legal counsel for Air Force Space Command. He also served as senior legal counsel at the wing and numbered air force levels of command, as chief of the Air Force Military Justice Division, and as an appellate military judge on the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals. Mr. Smith retired from active duty as a colonel in 2012. Prior to his current position, Mr. Smith was the Deputy General Counsel for Intelligence, International and Military Affairs, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Smith is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals.**EDUCATION**
1977 Bachelor of Arts in History, University of New Hampshire, Durham
1982 Juris Doctor degree, University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, Concord
1993 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1998 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence**CAREER CHRONOLOGY**
1. January 1983–September 1983, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, 836th Combat Support Group, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
2. September 1983–May 1985, Area Defense Counsel, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
3. May 1985–June 1987, Chief of Military Justice, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex
4. June 1987–July 1990, Chief, Civil Law and Acquisition Law, Headquarters 16th Air Force, Torrejon Air Base, Spain
5 July 1990–August 1992, Staff Attorney, Military Justice Division, Air Force Legal Services Agency, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
6. August 1992–July 1993, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7. July 1993–July 1995, Staff Judge Advocate, 722nd Air Refueling Wing, March AFB, Calif.
8. July 1995–July 1998, Staff Judge Advocate, 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson AFB, Alaska
9. July 1998–July 2000, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Headquarters 9th Air Force and United States Central Command Air Forces
10. July 2000–July 2004, Chief, Military Justice Division, Air Force Legal Services Agency, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
11. August 2004–July 2006, Appellate Military Judge, Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
12. July 2006–July 2008, Staff Judge Advocate, Headquarters 18th Air Force, Scott AFB, Ill.
13. July 2008–July 2009, Executive to The Judge Advocate General, Headquarters United States Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
15. April 2013–August 2019, Deputy General Counsel for Intelligence, International & Military Affairs, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
16. August 2019–January 2021, Principal Deputy General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
17. January 2021–March 2022, Acting General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
18. March 2022–present, Principal Deputy General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.**AWARDS AND HONORS**
Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
Meritorious Civilian Service Award
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
2000 Air Combat Command Outstanding Senior Attorney**PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS**
Air Force Association
Military Officers Association of America
(Current as of May 2022)
  Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil