James H. Smith, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Director for Acquisition, United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. He is responsible for all special operations forces research, development, acquisition, procurement and logistics.

Mr. Smith, a native of Lyndhurst, New Jersey, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1986 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. He served initially with the 3d Infantry Division in Kitzingen, Germany, as Bradley Platoon Leader, Heavy Mortar Platoon Leader, and Company Executive Officer. He then served as the 2d Brigade’s Assistant Operations Officer and Rifle Company Commander in 5th Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division (Light). Following receipt of a Master of Science in 1995, he
served as Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering and as Battalion Executive Officer of 1st Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment at the U.S. Military Academy.

His Acquisition Corps assignments include: Chief of the Firepower Division for the Director of Combat Developments, U.S. Army Infantry Center; Assistant Product Manager for Soldier Power and Deputy Technology Product Manager for Objective Force Warrior; Chief of Interoperability for the Headquarters Department of the Army G8; and Product Manager for Soldier Sensors and Lasers within Program Executive Office Soldier. Prior to his current assignment, he was Program Executive Officer for Special Operations Forces Warrior Systems at USSOCOM, followed by Military Deputy to the USSOCOM Acquisition Executive.

Mr. Smith is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the U.S. Army Command Staff College, the U.S. Army War College, and the Executive Program Manager’s Course. He is registered as a Professional Engineer in the State of Virginia.

Mr. Smith retired from active military duty on 31 October 2013, after 27 years of service. Immediately upon his military retirement, he was appointed to the Senior Executive Service and selected to serve as the Deputy Director for Acquisition, Special Operations Research, Development, and Acquisition Center, USSOCOM, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

He and his wife, Lori, have two children, Anna and Connor.