Eric Smith (general)

Major General Eric M. Smith is currently the commanding officer of the First Marine Division. The First Marine Division is currently stationed in the Marine Corps Base in Camp Pendleton. It is part of the larger I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Career
His former posts include commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. During this time, had several deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has also served in the 2nd Marine Division as the assistant chief of staff and the commanding officer of 8th Marine Regiment which was deployed to Afghanistan and was involved in Operation Enduring Freedom. From the July to November of 2015, he commanded the Marine Corps Forces Southern Command in Miami, Florida. The he was transferred to the Pentagon to serve as the senior military assistant to the Secretary of Defense. In May 2018, Smith was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force. He also lead a hazing crackdown but was rebuked by a military judge.