Ric Smith

Ric Smith AO, PSM
Secretary of the Department of Defence
In office 11 November 2002 – 1 December 2006
Personal details
Born	Richard Campbell Smith 1944 (age 72–73) Perth, Western Australia
Nationality	Australian
Spouse(s)	Janet Smith
Children	Iain Campbell Smith
Occupation	Public servant

Richard Campbell "Ric" Smith AO, PSM (born 1944) is a former senior Australian public servant and diplomat. He served as the Australian Ambassador to China (1996–2000), Australian Ambassador to Indonesia during the time of the 2002 Bali bombings (2001–2002), and Secretary of the Department of Defence (2002–2006). In April 2009, Smith was appointed as Australia's Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Smith was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1944, and was educated at the University of Western Australia. He was a high school teacher prior to joining the Australian Public Service in the Department of External Affairs in 1969.

Smith joined the Department of External Affairs in 1969 (later Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)) and served in New Delhi, Tel Aviv and Manila.

Smith held a number of senior positions in DFAT before being appointed as an assistant secretary in 1985, and consul-general in Honolulu in 1987. In 1992 he was appointed Deputy Secretary, and was also acting Secretary of DFAT for much of 1992–1993.

In 1994–1995, Smith was seconded to the Department of Defence as Deputy Secretary of Strategy and Intelligence.

Smith served as the Australian Ambassador to the People's Republic of China (1996–2000).

In the 1998 Australia Day Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia "for service to international relations and to the development of policy approaches to sanctions, human rights, defence and trade issues". He was awarded the Centenary Medal on 1 January 2001 "for a significant contribution over many years to international relations".

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