Lieutenant Colonel James R. R. Smith
Lieutenant Colonel Smith was commissioned in 2006 from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and subsequently completed The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia and Assault Amphibious Officers Course at Camp Pendleton, California. He served as a platoon commander at Company D, Third Assault Amphibian Battalion, 29 Palms California from 2007-2010, completing deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to Southeast Asia.
From 2010-2013 Lieutenant Colonel Smith was assigned to the Marine Corps Staff at the United States Naval Academy, Department of Admissions to recruit candidates for appointment and conduct outreach programs for parents, teachers, administrators and community influencers. Additionally, Lieutenant Colonel Smith supported the Marine Corps mission of recruiting, screening and selecting Midshipmen for assignment as Second Lieutenants in the Marine Corps.
In 2013 Lieutenant Colonel Smith was reassigned to 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune N.C. and deployed with a Security Forces Assistance Advisor Team to Helmand Province, Afghanistan where he served as the team leader for a small unit dedicated to work with an Afghan infantry company. Upon returning from Operation Enduring Freedom, Lieutenant Colonel Smith served as Company Commander of Company A and of Headquarters & Services Company, 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion until December of 2015.
In 2016, Lieutenant Colonel Smith completed Defense Language Institute, Washington D.C. and reported to Marine Corps Southern Command for duty as the U.S. Marine Corps Exchange Officer assigned to the Brazilian Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. From 2016-2019 he was embedded with the Brazilian Marines to support and enhance interoperability between the Marine Corps of the United States of America and Brazil.
From April 2019 to July 2021 Lieutenant Colonel Smith served as Battalion Operations Officer and as Battalion Executive Officer for Headquarters Battalion, 3d Marine Division, in Okinawa, Japan.
From August 2021 to May 2022 he served as the Operations Officer, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. In June of 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Smith assumed command of 2d Recruit Training Battalion.
Lieutenant Colonel Smith is originally from Torrington, Connecticut. He is a qualified parachutist and his personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing devise and the Combat Action Ribbon.