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Gregory B. Smith is the Director of the Office of Civil Rights. Mr. Smith serves as the primary advisor to the Secretary of State and the Department’s senior leadership on equal opportunity, diversity, affirmative employment, and related issues. Mr. Smith joined the State Department, as the Deputy Director for the Office of Civil Rights in January of 2005. Prior to coming to the State Department, Mr. Smith worked for the Department of the Navy, Office of General Counsel (OGC). At Navy, he was assigned to the Military Sealift Command, where he advised on contracts, ethics, civilian personnel law and Labor law.

Mr. Smith began his legal career as a Navy Judge Advocate General Corps officer. He served in San Diego, CA, the Republic of the Philippines, and Japan.

After leaving active duty, Mr. Smith joined Navy, OGC and was assigned to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). In that capacity he was a contracts attorney. Mr. Smith left NAVAIR to work at the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging, where he served initially as Investigative Counsel, and later as Chief Counsel until he returned to Navy, OGC.

Mr. Smith earned his B.A. from Morehouse College. He has a J.D. from Southern University School of Law and a LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center.

U.S. Department of State

The Lessons of 1989: Freedom and Our Future