LTG (ret) Edwin P. Smith
HONOLULU – Retired Army Lieutenant General E. P. Smith is the new president of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS).
Smith served in the U.S. Army for 35 years. He is no stranger to the Pacific, having served as a colonel in the Operations Directorate at U.S. Pacific Command and as a past commander of U.S. Army, Pacific from 1998-2002.
A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Smith is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and also holds a Master of Arts degree and a Master of Business Administration.
“I’m honored and excited to be joining an organization focused on security cooperation among nations in the Asia-Pacific Region,” said Smith. “The valued-added of APCSS to this region in leader development and long-term relationship building is very high. It is a privilege to be part of such an organization and effort.”
The APCSS addresses regional and global security issues, inviting military and civilian representatives of the United States and 45 Asia-Pacific nations to its comprehensive program of courses and conferences, both in Hawaii and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The Center supports the U.S. Pacific Command’s objective of developing professional and personal ties among national security establishments throughout the region. APCSS focuses on a multilateral and multi-dimensional approach to defining and addressing regional security issues and concerns. The most beneficial result is building relationships of trust and confidence among future leaders and decision-makers within the region.
LTG (Ret) Ed Smith, United States Army, is the director of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), which is a Department of Defense regional study, conference, and research center established in Honolulu on September 4, 1995. The Center supports the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), complementing USPACOM’s theater security cooperation strategy by fostering positive security relationships with nations in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Center’s mission is “to provide a forum where current and future military and civilian leaders from Asia-Pacific nations gather to enhance security cooperation through programs of executive education, professional exchange, and policy-relevant research.” The APCSS provides a focal point where regional officials, military and civilian, regularly gather to explore current and anticipated Asia-Pacific and global security-policy issues and exchange related views in order to achieve a greater understanding of the challenges that shape the security environment in the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world.
LTG (Ret) Smith retired from active duty in the U. S. Army on January 1, 2003 after completing a 35 year career. His last assignment while on active duty was as Commanding General of the U. S. Army Pacific. Serving as an Infantry officer in airborne, air assault and mechanized formations, Ed Smith spent many years in overseas assignments. He served repeatedly as a commander, as well as a line-unit staff officer, mostly in the operations and planning areas.
He taught at the United States Military Academy (USMA) and at the US Army Infantry Center and served as a special assistant to the USMA Superintendent for policy and planning. He also served as the Executive Officer to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe at Mons , Belgium and as Assistant Division Commander for Operations in the 82d Airborne Division.
He has extensive experience in the contingency operations and training arena, having led crisis-response joint task forces into Africa twice as Commander of the Southern European Task Force based in Vicenza , Italy and later having been responsible for the training and provision of Army forces for joint-coalition contingency operations in the Asia-Pacific region. Army forces were deployed to East Timor and the Philippines in support of such operations during his tenure as Commander, U. S. Army Pacific.
His primary areas of expertise include leader development; joint/interagency/coalition education/training and operations; U. S. Army transformation initiatives; and homeland security coordination and operations.
His civilian schooling includes a Masters of Arts and a Masters of Business Administration, and his military schooling includes a year at the Canadian National Defense College and attendance at Harvard’s JFK School Program on Security Perspectives for Russian and American Flag Officers.
His military awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with “V” device, and the Purple Heart.
He has been a consultant with both U. S. defense industry and defense educational institutions in a number of areas, as well as with civilian corporations in the leader, staff and strategy development arenas.
He has been married for over 35 years and has one son. He enjoys most sports, music and reading.
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