Raymond C. Smith

Raymond C. Smith is a retired United States Navy Rear Admiral who commanded the Naval Special Warfare Command from 1992 to 1996.

Military career
Smith enlisted in the US Navy in 1962. He was later selected to attend Naval Academy Prep School and subsequently received an appointment to attend the Naval Academy. Smith graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1967 and subsequently served on USS Floyd B. Parks till 1969. Smith then reported to Basic Underwater Demolition/Sea, Air, Land (BUD/S) training at Coronado, California and graduated with class 54 in March 1970. Winter's first assignment was to Underwater Demolition Team 12 and served a combat deployment to Vietnam. He later went on to receive a Master of Science degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1974. Smith was assigned as director of SEAL training from 1981 to 1983, then served as executive assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense Richard Armitage. Smith then served as commanding officer of SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE from 1985 to 1987. As a Navy Captain, Smith assumed command of Naval Special Warfare Group 1 (NSWG 1) in August 1989. During Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm he led all SEAL, Special Boat personnel during completion of hundreds of special operations missions. Smith relinquished command of NSWG 1 in 1991. Between 1992 and 1996 Smith served as the commanding officer of the Naval Special Warfare Command. His final assignment was deputy commanding officer of United States Special Operations Command. He retired from active duty in 2001 after 34 years of service.

This article contains material from the United States Federal Government and is in the public domain.