A graduate of the Naval Academy and participant of several conflicts, he distinguished himself during World War II as Commander, Cruiser Task Force during the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway in May and June 1942.

Smith participated in the normal peacetime routine of training cruises, fleet maneuvers, and gunnery drills in the Atlantic and in the Caribbean and took part in a good-will visit to Great Britain and France.

Smith then took part in the National Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, and was assigned to the armored monitor Monterey, operating with the Asiatic Station at U.S.

Following the United States' entry into World War I, Smith was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on June 5, 1917, and continued in his service in the Office of Naval Communications until early 1918.

[5][6] Smith was later transferred to the staff of Commander, Destroyer Flotillas operating in the European waters and served as Aide to Captain Joseph K. Taussig until the end of War.

[12][13][14][15][16] Smith remained in that assignment until September 1926, when he was promoted to commander and reported for duty to Naval Torpedo Station at Newport, Rhode Island, as Manufacturing officer.

[17][18][19] In June 1931, Smith was sent back to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and assumed duty as Executive officer for the Commandant of Midshipmen, Henry D. Cooke.

Smith remained in that capacity under following Commandant of Midshipmen, Ralston S. Holmes until June 1934, when he was appointed an Executive officer of cruiser Salt Lake City.

[23][24] In May 1939, Smith assumed command of light cruiser Brooklyn and patrolled the Atlantic along the East Coast of the United States in the opening weeks of the War.

[1][25][26][27][28] Smith subsequently assumed duty as chief of staff and aide to the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet under Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and served in this capacity at the time of the surprise Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

[2] Smith commanded his ships as the cruiser escort for Task Force 17 centered around aircraft carrier Yorktown and took part in the battles of the Coral Sea in May 1942 and Midway in June that year.

[1][31] Smith was ordered back to the United States and reported for duty as Director of Naval Transportation Service in Washington, D.C., in January 1943, remaining in that capacity for the next two years and was responsible for the coordination and administration of troop and supply ships.

[1][32] On March 6, 1945, Smith was promoted to the temporary rank of Vice admiral and assumed command of Service Force, Pacific Fleet with headquarters at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

While in this capacity, Smith was an advocate of strong American merchant marine operated by private enterprise and during his tenure, the contracts on construction of luxury ocean liners, United States, Independence and Constitution and were ordered.