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Marines


Biography

 

Colonel Jonathan R. Smith
Commanding Officer
25th Marine Regiment

Col Smith is a native of Cambridge, Massachusetts. He graduated from Middletown High School, Middletown, Rhode Island in May 1994 continuing on to the University of Maine where he graduated with a BS in Forestry in 1998. Upon graduation from college Col Smith was commissioned into the Maine Corps, completing TBS in March of 1999 and IOC in September of the same year.

In September of 1999 Col Smith was assigned to 2nd Bn, 2nd Marines in Camp Lejeune North Carolina for service as a Weapons Platoon Commander. He completed a MEU work up and deployment with the 26th MEU from May of 2000 to December of the same year.

Upon return from deployment Col Smith was assigned to 2nd Reconnaissance Bn as a Platoon Commander taking a detachment out on with the 26th MEU. Col Smith participated in Operation Iraq Freedom, working in Mosul, Iraq with 5th SF group. Col Smith’s platoon was the only element to operate outside of the MEU’s operating base at the Mosul International Airport. His platoon was tasked with providing security to an OGA compound safeguarding the highly sensitive personnel and equipment on site. Once the MEU was reconstituted they steamed to Liberia in order to conduct operations inside the country as part of Task Force Liberia.

Upon return from deployment in December of 2003 Col Smith PCS’d to Coronado, California for service as the Officer in Charge of the Basic Reconnaissance Course. Col Smith spent two and a half years at BRC and in April of 2005 received orders to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines for service as Fox Company Commander.

Col Smith completed the MEU (SOC) work up cycle and deployed with Fox Company in September of 2005 with the 15th MEU. During the deployment Col Smith and Fox Company were detached from 2/4 as well as the MEU operating independently in AR Ramadi while attached to three different battalions, 1/9 Infantry, 1/37 Armor, as well as 1/6 Marines. Col Smith and Fox Company were involved in clearing sectors in every part of the city until they were given their own AO in Juwayba Iraq which had previously been unoccupied by coalition forces. Upon return from the deployment Col Smith was reassigned as the Weapons Company Commander where he deployed in support of the 31st MEU.

Col Smith reported to MARSOC’s Special Operations School in September of 2008 to fill the Exercise Control Branch’s Operations Officer Billet. Col Smith conducted six Mission Rehearsal Exercises training over five-hundred Special Operations Marines and Sailors for deployment to Afghanistan.

In April of 2010 Col Smith reported to 2d Marine Special Operations Battalion where he took command of Marine Special Operations Company G in July of that same year. Col Smith planned, coordinated and executed an arduous eleven month work-up in preparation for an OEF-A deployment to RC-West. From July of 2011 to February 2012 Col Smith deployed to RC-West taking command of a Joint Special Operations Company consisting of eight Special Operations teams (four Operations Detachment Alphas and four Marine Special Operations Teams) operating in three Afghan Provinces responsible for over 32,000 square miles of battlespace. Col Smith was responsible for conducting Village Stability Operations with six SOF teams in seven different Village Stability Platforms in addition to Foreign Internal Defense with two SOF teams advising the 4th and 9th Afghan Commando Kandaks.

After Col Smith’s Afghanistan deployment he attended the School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW) and was assigned to the MAGTF Staff Training Program where he served as the MAGTF planner until being selected to command Battalion Landing Team (BLT), Second Battalion, First Marines.

While serving with the BLT Col Smith deployed to the 7th and 5th fleet areas of responsibility as part of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducting Operation Raging Torrent participating in numerous training venues in the Korea, United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

After battalion command Col Smith attended the Eisenhower School later completing his Joint billet by serving as the Senior Marine Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development within OSD Policy.

Col Smith then transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps first serving as the Director of Plans and Strategy then completing his tour as the Executive Assistant for the Deputy Commandant for Information.

Col Smith’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals W/ Vs and two gold stars in lieu of fourth award, the Combat Action Ribbon with gold star in lieu of second award, the LtCol William G. Leftwich Jr Award for outstanding leadership, and is a Distinguished Graduate from the Eisenhower School.