Rear Admiral Christopher Erson Smith, AM, CSM is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy. He has commanded the ships HMAS Gladstone (2002–04), HMAS Darwin (2008–10) and the flagship HMAS Canberra (2015–17), and served as Deputy Chief of Navy from September 2020 to December 2022. He was appointed Commander Australian Fleet on 16 December 2022.^[1]

Naval career

Smith joined the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1989 as a midshipman at the Royal Australian Naval College, HMAS Creswell.^[2] He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal in the 2002 Australia Day Honours,^[3] and appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 Australia Day Honours.^[4]

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Honours and awards

Source:^[5]

	Member of the Order of Australia Military Division (AM)	As a part of the 2023 Australia Day Honours, Smith was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.[4]
	Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)	As a part of the 2002 Australia Day Honours, Smith was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal.[3]
	Australian Active Service Medal
	Iraq Medal
	Australian Service Medal
	Australian Operational Service Medal - Border Protection
	Defence Long Service Medal	With 3 rosettes for 30 years service.
	Australian Defence Medal