CDR Dustin Smith

Past Executive Officer, USS Pinckney (DDG 91)

24 April 2022 Commander Dustin Smith, a native of Gainesville, GA, graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.  He holds masters’ degrees in Defense and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, Nuclear Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and Business Administration from the University of North Carolina.  He completed the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Training Program in 2011.

Commander Smith’s afloat assignments include Weapons Division Officer and Force Protection Officer in USS HARPERS FERRY (LSD 49), Reactor Laboratories Division Officer in USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71), Operations Officer in USS BENFOLD (DDG 65), and Reactor Electrical Assistant in USS NIMITZ (CVN 68).  Of his sea tours, he has forward deployed multiple times to SEVENTH Fleet, participated in various multilateral exercises, and completed a deployment to the Arabian Gulf to include exercises with the Indian Navy and tri-carrier operations in the Sea of Japan in 2017.

Ashore, he served as Deputy Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities (OPNAV N9), and Deputy Executive Assistant to the Director, Integrated Warfare (N9I).  Additionally, he served as a Shift Engineer at the Nuclear Power Training Unit, Charleston, SC.

Commander Smith’s personal awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), and various unit commendations, campaign medals, and service ribbons.