Smith, James B., 1952-

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James B. Smith (born 1952) is the former United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Selected by President Barack Obama, he was sworn in on September 16, 2009. He left his post on September 27, 2013.

Prior to his appointment, Ambassador Smith had served in a variety of executive positions with Raytheon Company involving corporate strategic planning, aircraft manufacturing, and international business development.

Smith was a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy’s Class of 1974 and received the Richard I. Bong award as the Outstanding Cadet in Military History. He received his Masters in History from Indiana University in 1975. He is a distinguished graduate from the Naval War College, the Air Command and Staff College and the National War College.

Smith spent a 28-year career in the United States Air Force. Trained as a fighter pilot, he logged over 4,000 hours of flight time in F-15s and T-38s. He served around the world in a variety of operational assignments and flew combat missions from Dhahran AB during Operation Desert Storm. He commanded the 94th Fighter Squadron, the 325th Operations Group and the 18th Fighter Wing (Kadena AB, Okinawa). In addition, he served in a variety of staff assignments involving coalition partners, and served as Air Force Chair and Professor of Military Strategy at the National War College. During his final assignment at U.S. Joint Forces Command, he led Millennium Challenge, the largest transformation experiment in history. He was promoted to Brigadier General in October, 1998, and retired from the Air Force on October 1, 2002.

In April 2017, Smith was appointed to be the dean of the newly formed College of Engineering, Technology, and Aeronautics at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

Smith has received honorary degrees from SNHU and the University of Maryland University College.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, 1921 - 2008. Informational Services Records, 12/28/2004 - 9/30/2013 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
Relation Name
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Air Command and Staff School corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Indiana University corporateBody
employeeOf Lockheed Martin corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf National War College (U.S.) corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Naval War College (U.S.) corporateBody
employeeOf North American Aerospace Defense Command corporateBody
employeeOf Raytheon Company corporateBody
employeeOf Southern New Hampshire University corporateBody
memberOf United States. Air Force corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf United States air force academy corporateBody
employeeOf United States. Department of State corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Peterson Air Force Base CO US
Langley Air Force Base VA US
Salem NH US
Tyndall Air Force Base FL US
Waltham MA US
Moody A F B GA US
District of Columbia DC US
Ramstein Air Base 08 DE
Suffolk VA US
Kadena Air Base 47 JP
Laughlin Air Force Base TX US
Manchester NH US
Holloman Air Force Base NM US
Soesterberg Air Base 09 NL
Subject
Occupation
Ambassadors
Armed Forces Officers
Business Executive
Diplomats
Professors (teacher)
Activity

Person

Birth 1952

Male

Americans

English

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