Mr. Russell E. Smith serves as the Executive Director for Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (FMFLANT), Marine Forces Command (MARFORCOM), Marine Forces Northern Command (MARFORNORTH). His primary role is to enhance operational capability by advising the Commanding General and providing strategic leadership and oversight for the efficient management of the command’s resources.
Mr. Smith was appointed to Senior Executive Service in May 2026.
Mr. Smith transitioned to the civil service in December 2017, assuming the duties of Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7 for MARFORCOM. This followed a distinguished military career of more than 30 years, from which he retired as a Colonel in 2017.
A 1987 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Mr. Smith served as an infantry officer in a variety of command and staff billets. His operational experience includes combat deployments to Panama for Operation NIMROD DANCER, Liberia for Operation SHARP EDGE, and multiple tours in Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Throughout his career, he held numerous key staff positions, including Weapons Test Project Officer at the Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Activity, where he was recognized by the President’s Commission on Y2K conversion, and as the J-3 Special Operations Planner at U.S. Pacific Command. While serving as the Operations Officer for the 22nd MEU in 2005, he was wounded by an
improvised explosive device in Iraq.
His command assignments include leading the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in Iraq from 2007-2009 and later commanding the 25th Marine Regiment from 2013-2015. His senior staff assignments at Headquarters Marine Corps included Director of the Fires and Maneuver Integration Division and Director of the Strategic Vision Group.
Mr. Smith is a distinguished graduate of the Armored Officers Advance Course and a graduate of the Air War College. He attended the Royal College of Defense Studies in London, UK, where he received the Aris Langford award for leadership and earned a Master’s Degree with Merit in International Relations from King’s College London.