Defense Secretary Ash Carter taps Marine general as top military adviser
By Andrew Tilghman, Staff writer 6:21 p.m. EST December 1, 2015
Lt. Gen. Robert B. Neller, Brig. Gen. Eric M. Smith
Defense Secretary Ash Carter has tapped a one-star Marine Corps general to be his senior military adviser, replacing the Army three-star who was fired last month, a defense official said.
Carter selected Brig. Gen. Eric M. Smith, currently commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces South, according to a defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the appointment has not been publicly announced.
The secretary’s senior military adviser is a highly influential military officer who provides the Defense Department’s civilian leader with key military advice on all matters of policy and strategy.
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Carter previously worked with Smith when Carter was the Defense Department’s deputy secretary of defense in 2013 and Smith was senior military adviser to that position.
Smith is a former foreign-area officer who speaks Spanish and served in Venezuela from 2001 to 2003. From 2003 until 2006, he deployed twice to Iraq while serving in the 1st Marine Division.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/12/01/carter-taps-marine-general-top-military-adviser/76627904/
