Bradley B. Smith
Captain, U.S. Navy

Academic Chief of Staff

Area of Expertise - Maritime Security

Captain Brad Smith joined the Asia-Pacific Center in August 2006 as Academic Chief of Staff for the College of Security Studies. He served the previous three years as the Director, Naval Command College – the senior international college at U.S. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.

In 1980, Captain Smith entered flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida earning his wings as a Naval Flight Officer. He has spent the majority of his military career flying at sea logging over 3,600 S-3B Viking flight hours and 600 carrier arrested landings. Captain Smith completed three extended six-month deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean assigned to Air Anti-Submarine Squadron THREE ZERO (VS-30) "Diamondcutters" embarked on USS FORRESTAL (CV-59) and USS SARATOGA (CV-60). In December 1985, he joined S-3B Fleet Replacement Squadron, VS-27 "Seawolves" at NAS Cecil Field, Florida as flight instructor and curriculum manager. In 1989, Captain Smith served on Carrier Air Wing ONE staff deploying to the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean onboard USS AMERICA (CV-66). In 1990 he completed two deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf aboard AMERICA as a member of VS-32 "Maulers", including combat flying in Operation DESERT STORM. He then attended the Royal Air Force Staff College at Bracknell, United Kingdom graduating in December 1993. From 1994 to 1996, Captain Smith served as Joint Strategic Plans Officer in the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. From 1997-1999 Captain Smith commanded Sea Control Squadron THREE ONE (VS-31) "Topcats" deploying to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch onboard USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN-74). Following command, Captain Smith served at U.S. European Command, Stuttgart Germany from January 1999 to February 2002 as a Politico-Military Desk Officer and the Deputy Division Chief for Europe in the Plans and Policy Directorate (J5).

Captain Smith holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College (2003) and a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy (1980). Awards and decorations include Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2), Meritorious Service Medal, Strike/Flight Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medals (4), Joint Service Achievement Medal (2), Navy Achievement Medal and various theater deployment and service medals and ribbons.