Speakers

Maj. Gen. James E. Smith is the Vice Director for Joint Force Development, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. As the Vice Director for Joint Force Development, Maj. Gen. Smith serves as the principal assistant to the Director for Joint Force Development (J-7), supporting the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in enhancing the operational effectiveness of both the current and future joint force. The J-7 is responsible for the six functions of joint force development: Doctrine; Education; Concept Development and Experimentation; Training; Exercises and Lessons Learned.

Originally from Boise, Idaho, Maj. Gen. Smith commissioned in 1997 as the top graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. His career spans numerous space operations and acquisition positions including command at the squadron, group, wing and garrison levels. His staff assignments include Headquarters, NATO; Headquarters, Air Force Space Command; the Air Staff; the Space Staff; and the Joint Staff.

Maj. Gen. Smith has deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and to the U.S. Embassy in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Prior to his current position, Maj. Gen. Smith served as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber and Nuclear, Headquarters U.S. Space Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.