ActingAssistant Secretary of Defense
Health Affairs
Dr. David J. Smith is currently performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. Prior to
his present role, he was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Readiness Policy and Oversight. In this
role he directed Department-wide efforts to develop and implement policies and programs relating to DOD deployment
medicine, force health protection, national disaster support, medical research and development, international health
agreements and missions, and medical readiness for 2.3 million Service members.
Smith also performed the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs from Feb. 2017 - Aug. 2017 and
again from Nov. 2021 – Apr. 2022, and acted as the Principal Deputy for Health Affairs from Sept. 2017 – Oct. 2017, Feb.
2019 - Jan. 2020, Apr. 2022 – Mar. 2023 and Nov. 24 – Jan. 25.
Smith received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois in 1977 and completed his Doctor of Medicine
degree at Northwestern University Medical School in 1981. He completed his Occupational Medicine Training at the
University of Cincinnati Medical School in 1989, where he received a Master of Science in Environmental Health. Smith is
a certified physician executive (CPE), fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
(FACOEM) and is board certified in Occupational Medicine with a certificate of added qualification in Undersea Medicine.
He also has a Certificate in Medical Management from the American College of Physician Executives at Tulane University.
After receiving his Master's degree and completing his residency in Occupational and Environmental medicine, he served
as the United States Navy medical exchange officer, Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, England. He then held
positions as the head of the Safety and Health Department at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute;
occupational health consultant for the Defense Nuclear Agency; Director of Occupational and Community Health at National
Naval Medical Center, and Commanding Officer, Naval Hospital Rota, Spain.