Biographical
Details
Brigadier
Andrew Smith
Commanding
Officer of Operation Acolyte
Brigadier
Andrew 'Boomer' Smith was born and raised in Canberra. He entered the
Royal Military College in 1980, graduating in 1983 to the Corps of Royal
Australian Engineers. After graduation, he returned to the Royal Military
College in 1984 to complete the Honours year of his Bachelor of Arts
degree with the Faculty of Military Studies, University of New South
Wales.
In 1985,
Brigadier Smith was posted to the 2nd/3rd Field Engineer Regiment as
a Field Troop Commander and, on promotion to Captain in 1986, as Support
Troop Commander with 7th Field Squadron. He subsequently served as Adjutant
of the Regiment and as the Second-in-Command of 7th Field Squadron.
Other Corps appointments include service as Adjutant of 4th Field Engineer
Regiment (Army Reserve) and, after his promotion to Major in 1992, as
Officer Commanding 25th Support Squadron, 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment.
Brigadier Smith was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1998 and, in 1999
and 2000, commanded 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment. In that appointment
he was responsible for raising the Joint Incident Response Unit, which
supported the Sydney 2000 Games. After promotion to Colonel in 2003,
he served as Director, Force Development Group within the Land Warfare
Development Centre.
In 1989
and 1990 Brigadier Smith served with the United Nations Mine Clearance
Training Team in Pakistan. In 1992 he undertook specialist training
in nuclear, biological and chemical defence in Canada and the United
States. In 2001 and 2002 Brigadier Smith was posted as the Australian
Exchange Instructor at the United States Army Command and General Staff
College at Fort Leavenworth where he instructed in Operational Warfighting
and Terrorism. In 2004, Brigadier Smith deployed to Iraq where he served
as the Deputy C7 (Engineer) with the Coalition headquarters, in which
appointment he was heavily involved with measures to counter the threat
of improvised explosive devices.
Brigadier
Smith served as Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, 1st Division in 1989.
In 1993 and 1994 he was posted to Force Development (Land) Branch within
Headquarters Australian Defence Force. In 1998 he served in the Directorate
of Officer Career Management - Army within the Defence Personnel Executive.
Brigadier
Smith is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College and the Centre
for Defence and Strategic Studies. In addition to his Bachelor of Arts
degree, he also holds a Master of Defence Studies degree from the University
of New South Wales.
Brigadier
Smith was awarded a Chief of the Defence Force Commendation for his
service as Commanding Officer, Joint Incident Response Regiment, and
a United States Army Meritorious Service Medal for his service at Fort
Leavenworth. He was awarded the United States Bronze Star Medal for
his service in Iraq.
Brigadier
Smith assumed command of 7th Brigade in December 2005. He is married
to Jillian. In his spare time, he enjoys flying, reading and black powder
shooting.
Information
current at 16 February 2006
