Brig. Gen. Anthony L. Smith is the Director, Budget Operations and Personnel, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Budget, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He is responsible for planning and directing the execution of the Department of the Air Force’s Operations and Maintenance and Military Personnel budgets, totaling more than $110 billion annually. He leads a team of military and civilian professionals who develop, integrate, and justify readiness and personnel budgets for the Department of the Air Force, defending these requirements as they are addressed by the Office of the Secretary of War, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Congress.
Brig. Gen. Smith entered the Air Force after receiving his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Fayetteville State University, North Carolina in May 1997. Brig. Gen. Smith has served in a variety of positions at the wing, center, major command, Air Force and war agency levels.
Prior to his current assignment, the general served as the Commander, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and the 87th Air Base Wing, New Jersey, providing installation support to more than 80 mission partners at the War Department’s only tri-service joint base.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Accounting, Fayetteville State University, N.C.
1997 Financial Management Officer Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2002 Master of Science, Cost Analysis, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2003 Financial Management Staff Officer Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2007 Defense Financial Management School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Master of Military Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence
2018 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1997–July 2000, Flight Commander, 92nd Comptroller Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.
2. August 2000–March 2002, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. April 2002–March 2005, Cost Analyst/Program Control Chief, STSS, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
4. April 2005–July 2008, Budget Analyst/Executive Officer, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
5. August 2008–June 2009, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
6. July 2009–June 2012, Commander, 4th Comptroller Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
7. July 2012–July 2014, Commander, 2nd Comptroller Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
8. August 2014–August 2016, Director, Cost Integration Directorate, SAF/FM, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. September 2016–June 2017, Senior Military Assistant, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Arlington, Va.
10. July 2017–June 2018, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. July 2018–June 2019, Budget Director, Headquarters Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
12. July 2019–June 2021, Commander, 71st Mission Support Group, Vance AFB, Okla.
13. July 2021–May 2023, Director, Financial Management, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
14. June 2023–June 2025, Commander, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and 87th Air Base Wing, JB MDL, N.J.
15. July 2025–present, Director, Budget Operations and Personnel, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Budget, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
(Current as of January 2026)