S2 Ep1 Evolution of Special Operations Forces

Please enjoy Preston's conversation with Command Chief Master
Sergeant Greg Smith on the evolution of Special Operations
Forces.


Command Chief Master Sergeant Gregory A. Smith is the tenth
command senior enlisted leader, U.S. Special Operations Command,
MacDill AFB, Florida. He assumed the position on July 11, 2019.


Chief Smith entered the U.S. Air Force in 1990 as an aircraft
armament systems specialist. His initial assignment was with the
3246th Test Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. In 1993, Chief
Smith was reassigned to the 355th Fighter Squadron, Eielson Air
Force Base, Alaska where he served as a weapons load crew member
on A/OA-10 aircraft. He completed multiple deployments to the
pacific theater.


Chief Smith was selected for special duty as an AC-130H/U aerial
gunner in 1996. He served as lead, instructor and evaluator
gunner with the 4th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field,
Florida. He also served as the superintendent of Wing Strategic
Plans with the 16th Special Operations Wing. In September 2001,
Chief Smith was part of the first team to deploy following the
terror attacks on 9/11. He established the first forward
operating base and then deployed to Pakistan where he established
a joint interagency forward operating location. In 2009, Chief
Smith became the first course director and chief of academics for
the Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy.


In June 2012, Chief Smith was selected for command chief master
sergeant for the 58th Special Operations Wing where he oversaw
the training and readiness for special operations and combat
rescue personnel. In 2013, Chief Smith was selected as the
command senior enlisted leader for Special Operations Command
Europe where he led special operations forces through multiple
contingencies in Ukraine, Turkey, and Syria. Chief Smith became
the command senior enlisted leader for NATO Special Operations
Headquarters in 2015. In this role, he synchronized Allied
special operations forces for employment in support of NATO
missions across the globe. Chief Smith’s last assignment was the
command chief master sergeant, Air Force Special Operations
Command.