Leighton W. Smith Jr.

Leighton W. Smith Jr.
Leighton W. Smith Jr.
Nickname(s)	"Snuffy"
Born	August 20, 1939; Mobile, Alabama
Died	November 28, 2023 (aged 84)
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1962–1996
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	Allied Forces Southern Europe; United States Naval Forces Europe; Implementation Force; Carrier Group 6; USS America (CV-66); USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6)
Battles/wars	Vietnam War; Bosnian War Operation Deny Flight; Operation Deliberate Force;
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2); Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit (3); Distinguished Flying Cross (2); Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Leighton Warren Smith Jr. USN (20 August 1939 – 28 November 2023)^[1] was a former United States Navy admiral. In 1994, he became the Commander in Chief of United States Naval Forces Europe and Allied Forces Southern Europe, holding the commands during the height of the Yugoslav wars. He commanded the NATO enacted no-fly zone (Operation Deny Flight) over Bosnia and the later bombing campaign against Republika Srpska (Operation Deliberate Force) in 1995.^[2] The same year he additionally took on command of the NATO-led Implementation Force (IFOR) in Bosnia with the objective of overseeing the peace agreement. He held all three positions until his retirement in 1996.