Major General Chris Smith DSC AM CSC is the Deputy Chief of Army, a position he has held since 31 January 2024.

Major General Smith graduated from the Royal Military College—Duntroon in 1995 and commissioned into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. His regimental service included command appointments within the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, staff appointments within the 3rd Brigade and training staff appointments at the Royal Military College—Duntroon.

He has held several senior appointments within Australian and US headquarters. They include appointments as Chief of Staff to the Chief of the Defence Force, the Chief of the Defence Force’s Liaison Officer to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Director Future Land Warfare and Director General Land Operations (G3) of the Australian Army. Most recently, Major General Smith has completed a two-year appointment as the Deputy Commanding General US Army Pacific.

His operational experience includes as Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion Battle Group, Afghanistan, 2011; Operations Officer, 2nd Battalion Battle Group, Iraq, 2006; UN Military Observer, Lebanon and Golan Heights, 2002; Platoon Commander, UN Assistance Mission, Rwanda, 1995. Major General Smith also served as the Commander Landing Force for the newly formed Australian Amphibious Ready Element in 2013.

Major General Smith is an honours graduate of the US Army School of Advanced Military Studies. He is also a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College, the Royal Military College—Duntroon, and the Australian Defence Force Academy.

His awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, Member of the Order of Australia, the Conspicuous Service Cross, the US Legion of Merit (Officer) with Oak Leaf Cluster, French Legion of Merit (Chevalier), US Bronze Star, Commander Joint Operations Commendation, Meritorious Unit Citation – Rwanda.