CDR Dustin T. Smith

Commanding Officer, USS Pinckney (DDG 91)

06 December 2023 A native of Gainesville, GA, Commander Smith graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He holds graduate degrees in Defense and Strategic Studies from the United States 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 and Force Protection Officer in USS HARPERS FERRY (LSD 49), Reactor Laboratories and Assistant Reactor Electrical Assistant in USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71), Operations Officer in USS BENFOLD (DDG 65), Reactor Electrical Assistant in USS NIMITZ (CVN 68), and most recently Executive Officer in USS PINCKNEY (DDG 91). Of his sea tours, he has forward deployed multiple times to SEVENTH Fleet, participated in various multilateral exercises, and a deployed to the Arabian Gulf to include exercises with the Indian Navy and tri-carrier operations in the Sea of Japan.

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 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 (5 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2 awards).