Rupert Smith

Rupert Smith is a retired British Army officer and author. He was born on December 13, 1943, in Chelmsford, Essex, England. Smith's father, Irving Smith, was a New Zealand fighter ace in the Battle of Britain. Rupert Smith attended the Haileybury and Imperial Service College before joining the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. After graduating, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Parachute Regiment in December 1964. Smith served in several conflicts, including the Gulf War and the Bosnian War, where he received the Distinguished Service Order. He later became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Smith is also known for his book, 'The Utility of Force.'