Col William C. Smith is the Commander, 1st Special
Operations Mission Support Group, Hurlburt Field, Florida.
The six squadrons ensure the mission readiness of the 1st
Special Operations Wing, Headquarters Air Force Special
Operations Command, and 46 tenant units from six separate
major commands located in more than 1,000 facilities on a
6,000-acre installation. The group is responsible for facility
construction and maintenance, housing, environmental
management, fire protection, base defense and law
enforcement, communications, manpower and personnel,
lodging, recreation, food service, contracting, supply, fuels,
transportation, logistics, aerial port operations, and other
base services supporting over 63,000 active duty, civilian,
dependent, and retired personnel.
Col Smith commissioned as a 2d Lt through Georgia Tech
University ROTC in 2003 after receiving his Bachelor of Arts
Degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University. He
has over two decades of active duty experience in various
operational and staff assignments. Col Smith has commanded
four times at the squadron level, deployed twice in support
of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, and has supported Operations
INHERENT RESOLVE, ALLIES WELCOME, and ATLANTIC
RESOLVE. Prior to his current assignment, Col Smith was the
Deputy Commander, 501st Combat Support Wing, RAF Fairford, United Kingdom.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice, Georgia State University, Atlanta
2004 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Master of Arts Degree, International Relations, University of Oklahoma, Norman
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Master of Arts Degree, Defense and Strategic Studies, College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
2020 National Defense Fellow, International Security Program and The Project for Managing the Atom, Belfer Center, John F.
Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2023 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, The University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill
2026 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, CO
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2003–December 2006, Antiterrorism/Force Protection Officer/Assistant Operations Officer; OIC, Training &
Resources Flight; Operations Officer, 17th Security Forces Squadron, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas (August 2005–March 2006,
Theatre Internment Facility Battle Captain, 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Camp Bucca, Iraq)
2. January 2007–February 2010, Flight Commander; Section Commander; Operations Officer, 31st Security Forces Squadron,
Aviano AB, Italy (August 2008–March 2009, OIC, Joint Defense Operations Center, 332d Expeditionary Security Forces Group,
Joint Base Balad, Iraq)
3. February 2010–May 2012, Chief, Nuclear Security Policy Branch, Headquarters US Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
4. May 2012–May 2013, Action Officer, Commander’s Action Group, Headquarters US Air Forces in Europe-US Air Forces Africa,
Ramstein AB, Germany
5. May 2013–July 2015, Commander, 377th Security Forces Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
6. July 2015–June 2016, Student, College of Naval Command and Staff, Newport, R.I.
7. June 2016–June 2017, Commander, 39th Security Forces Squadron, Incirlik AB, Turkey
8. July 2017–July 2019, Commander, 55th Security Forces Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
9. July 2019–June 2020, National Defense Fellow, International Security Program and The Project for Managing the Atom, Belfer
Center, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
10. July 2020–April 2022, Chief, Nuclear Security Policy Branch; Chief, Security Forces Operations Branch, Headquarters US Air
Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. (March 2022–Jun 2022, Commander, 100th Security Forces Squadron, RAF Mildenhall,
United Kingdom)
11. April 2022–June 2023, Chief, Operations and Training Division, Headquarters US Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2023–July 2025, Deputy Commander, 501st Combat Support Wing, RAF Fairford, United Kingdom
13. July 2025–Present, Commander, 1st Special Operations Mission Support Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Bronze Excellence in Competition, Rifle
Bronze Excellence in Competition, Pistol
Netherlands Cross for Marching Proficiency, Bronze
German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency, Gold
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug. 21, 2003
First Lieutenant Sept. 2, 2005
Captain Sept. 2, 2007
Major Dec. 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 1, 2016
Colonel April 1, 2022
(Current as of April 2026)