Rear Admiral Bryon Thomas Smith is a fifth generation Californian who comes from a family of long-time cattle ranchers. After attending the University of California, Davis, where he played football and double majored in Political Science and Geography, he received his commission with distinction from the U.S. Navy’s Officer Candidate School (OCS) and completed flight training with ‘Top Hook’ honors flying the E-2C Hawkeye. He has a PhD in War Studies from King’s College London, a MBA from the University of Cambridge and a MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

His sea duty tours include flying the E-2C Hawkeye with Early Airborne Squadron (VAW-112) “Golden Hawks” in Point Mugu, California; deploying in support of Operation Southern Watch, Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom with Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Following these deployments, he became the Safety Department Head for Airborne Command and Control and Logistics Wing (COMACCLOGWING) at Naval Base Ventura County, California (NVBC).

Subsequent operational tours include flying the C-130T Hercules with Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR- 55) “Minutemen” in Point Mugu, California, where he was awarded both the Reserve Officer Association’s (ROA) ‘Junior Reserve Officer of the Year 2008’ and the Association of the United States Navy (AUSN) 11th District’s ‘Junior Reserve Officer of the Year 2009’, and with “The Revelers” (VR-54) in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Command tours include Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR-62) “Nomads” in Jacksonville, Florida where he led the squadron’s deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; earning the 2012, 2014 and 2015 Noel Davis Battle Efficiency Award and the U.S. Navy’s 2015 reserve squadron of the year. Additional command tours include Navy Reserve, Submarine Forces Atlantic’s Undersea Warfare Operations Unit (NR SUBLANT UWO ORL) in Orlando, Florida, Navy Combat Documentation Unit (NCDU) at the Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia, Navy Reserve, U.S. Second Fleet Headquarters (NR C2F HQ), where he was both the Reserve Chief of Staff for C2F and Allied Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFCNF) in Norfolk Virginia and Navy Reserve, Commander Naval Installation Command Headquarters (NR CNIC HQ) at the Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia.

Smith has accumulated over 3,500 flight hours in the U.S. Navy to include combat sorties in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit (two awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Air Medal Strike/Flight, and various other personal, expeditionary, unit and campaign awards.

Last Updated: 1 March 2024