Brig. Gen. Dirk Smith, former director of air and cyberspace operations at the Pacific Air Forces headquarters, has been appointed deputy commander of operations and intelligence for the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve within the U.S. Central Command.
The Defense Department said Thursday Smith will also take helm as commander of Air Combat Command‘s 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force-Levant based in Southwest Asia.
Smith has been based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii since his assignment to head PACAF’s air, space and cyber readiness efforts in June 2015.
He is a command pilot with more than 2,800 logged hours flying the F-15C and F-22A aircraft.
He has held multiple leadership roles throughout his military career, including assignments with Pacific Command, the 609th Air and Space Operations Center, North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Northern Command and the Force Application Functional Capability Board.
The brigadier general has also received various awards such as the Bronze Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
His current assignment calls for him to support Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve in its efforts to defeat the Islamic State militant group in the Combined Joint Operations Area and help the coalition perform governmental actions that will support regional stability.
