Colonel Steven J. Smith
Chief of Staff
XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg
Colonel Steven J. Smith was born and raised in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. He was commissioned a 2LT in the Field Artillery upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984. Following attendance at the Field Artillery Basic Course and Ranger School, he reported to Fort Bragg, NC and was assigned to the 1-320th Abn FA, 82d Airborne Division, serving as a Fire Support Team (FIST) Chief, Battery Fire Direction Officer, Battery Executive Officer and Battalion Fire Support Officer.
He attended the Field Artillery Advanced Course in 1988, reassigned to the Republic of Korea and served as the A/S3 for 1-4 FA Battalion, 3d Brigade, 2d Infantry Division,
He returned to Fort Bragg and the 82d Airborne Division in November 1989, serving 2 years in the Division FSE including deployments to Operations Just Cause and Desert Shield/Storm. In 1991, he assumed command of A/3-319th AFAR, serving for 23 months.
In 1993, he was reassigned to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Following completion of CAS3, he served as an Operations Research and Systems Analyst in the Battle Command Battle Lab, and then attended the Command and General Staff College and completed Webster University's Master's Degree program in management.
In 1995, he was reassigned to US Army Pacific serving as a Contingency Plans Officer, followed by 3 years with the 25th ID (Light). During this tour, he served with the 3-7 FA as the 3d Brigade FSO and Battalion S3, followed by duties as the 25th DIVARTY S3.
Returning to Fort Bragg in 1999, he served as the Army Fire Support Officer for the Joint Special Operations Command. In 2001, he assumed command of the 2-319th AFAR, 82d Airborne Division. He deployed with his battalion as a part of the 82d Airborne Division's 2d Brigade Combat Team in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I. In August 2003, COL Smith was assigned as the 82d Airborne Division's Inspector General with duties as the Division's G3 Rear.
In July 2004, he served as a National Security Fellow at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
From July 2005 to March 2006, COL Smith served as the Deputy Commander, XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery, including a 7-month tour of duty as the Deputy Effects Coordinator for the Multi-National Corps—Iraq (MNC-I). From March 2006 through its inactivation in May 2007, COL Smith commanded the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery.
From July 2007 to July 2009, COL Smith served as the Brigade Commander of the 479th Field Artillery Brigade, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Following his command, COL Smith served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G3 for the XVIII Airborne Corps, August 2009 to April 2012, and is currently assigned as the Chief of Staff for the XVIII Airborne Corps, April 2012 to present.