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Michael Smeath

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 Michael Smeath
Smeath in 2023
Born (1967-10-02) 2 October 1967 (age 57)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1989–present
RankAir Vice-Marshal
CommandsRAF Regiment
RAF Honington
No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment
Battles / warsGulf War
Bosnian War
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire

Air Vice-Marshal Michael John Smeath, CBE (born 2 October 1967) is a senior Royal Air Force officer.

Early life and education

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Smeath was born on 2 October 1967 in Woking, Surrey, England.[1] He undertook a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in international studies with the Open University, graduating in 2006.[1][2] The same year, he completed a Master of Arts degree in war studies via King's College London.[1] He later studied at Deakin University, Canberra, graduating with an MA in strategic studies.[3]

RAF career

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Smeath joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) as an aircraft propulsion engineer in 1987.[2] He rose to the rank of senior aircraftman, before being selected for officer training in 1990.[1][2] Having attended the Royal Air Force College Cranwell,[1] he was commissioned on 21 June 1990 as a pilot officer, with seniority in that rank from 15 January 1989.[4] He served as officer commanding No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment.[5] He went on to be Station Commander at RAF Honington in 2014,[6] Liaison Officer to the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee in July 2017 and Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Staff in August 2018.[7] In February 2020 Smeath was appointed Head of the British Defence Staff and Defence Attaché in Washington, D.C., with effect from August 2020.[8] In January 2023, he was appointed director of the Global Defence Network in the Ministry of Defence;[9] as such, he is head of the UK's military attaché world wide network.[10]

Smeath was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2001 Birthday Honours,[11] and advanced to Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2018 New Year Honours.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Smeath, Air Vice-Marshal Michael John, (born 2 Oct. 1967), Director Global Defence Network, Ministry of Defence, since 2023". Who's Who 2024. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Air Vice-Marshal Mick Smeath CBE". GOV.UK. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Smeath, Air Vice-Marshal Michael John, (born 2 Oct. 1967), Defence Attaché, Washington, since 2020." WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 1 Dec. 2021
  4. ^ "No. 52254". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 August 1990. p. 13859.
  5. ^ "RAF Leeming squadron rewarded for exceptional service". Harrogate Advertiser. 23 September 2005. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  6. ^ "New station commander at RAF Honington". Bury Free Press. 21 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Ministry of Defence and Tri-Service Senior Appointments" (PDF). September 2011. p. 7. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Senior Appointments 10 February 2020". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Senior Appointments 2022". Royal Air Force. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Defence Diplomacy: A softer side of UK Defence". UK Parliament. Defence Sub-Committee. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  11. ^ "No. 56237". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 2001. p. 7.
  12. ^ "No. 62150". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2017. p. N7.
Military offices
Preceded by Head of the British Defence Staff – US and Defence Attaché
2020–2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Scott Miller
 Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment
2022–present 		Incumbent
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