FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
W. Eric Smith has been selected as the Defense Logistics Agency’s new chief of staff, DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Michelle Skubic announced in an April 27 email to senior leaders.
Smith is currently deputy commander of DLA Energy and oversees planning, direction and execution of worldwide support in petroleum, natural gas, electricity, coal and aerospace energy to military and government agencies as well as foreign governments.
His previous positions include deputy director for minority programs and business operations in the Department of Energy’s Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, as well as acting associate administrator for emergency operations and deputy associate administrator for emergency management and preparedness at the National Nuclear Security Administration.
During his seven years at the Department of Homeland Security, Smith implemented a national and interagency all-hazards operations support concept. He also instituted a public and private sector resource planning and operations support capability to respond to catastrophic disasters, national emergencies and special events.
A former Army logistics management officer, Smith served as executive officer to former DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Robert Dail and staff director for DLA’s Logistics Operations Center in 2006. He became a member of the senior executive service in 2007, when he was selected to join the Federal Emergency Management Agency as the assistant administrator for logistics management leading the transformation of domestic disaster logistics following Hurricane Katrina.
Smith has master’s degrees in national security strategy from the National War College and in business administration from Saint Ambrose University in addition to a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Tennessee.
He is replacing Kristin French, who is now deputy director of DLA Logistics Operations. Skubic said Smith will transition to his new role in the next few weeks.