The first chemical officer to serve as commanding general of the Army’s Maneuver Support Center of Excellence at Fort Leonard Wood receives 2022 Defender of Liberty Award

The Association of the U.S. Army’s vice president for Leadership and Education received the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives Command’s 2022 Defender of Liberty Award on Jan. 31 in a ceremony at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Retired Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, who joined AUSA in 2022, served 35 years in uniform, including a final assignment as Army inspector general. From 2008 to 2010, Smith was the 25th chief of Chemical and commandant of the Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School. He commanded the 20th Support Command in 2010, and in 2013 became the first chemical officer to serve as commanding general of the Army’s Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood. According to an Army statement, the Defender of Liberty Award is presented to leaders who have made a significant impact on the U.S. military’s only multifunctional and deployable CBRNE command. “Smith is a pioneer in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. A veteran of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Smith commanded the 83rd Chemical Battalion, 3rd Chemical Brigade, and U.S. Army CBRN School,” according to the Army statement. “Smith was one of the longest-serving commanding generals in the 18-year history of the 20th CBRNE Command. He also previously served as the command operations officer.”