Craig Bruce Smith

Craig Bruce Smith is an associate professor of history at National Defense University in the Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS) in Norfolk, VA.

He authored American Honor: The Creation of the Nation’s Ideals during the Revolutionary Era and co-authored George Washington’s Lessons in Ethical Leadership. His next project Securing Victory, 1782-1783, a military history of the final years of the American Revolution,will be released in 2026. Currently, he is researching his next book project, “The Greatest Man in the World”: A Global History of George Washington. 

Also look for his articles in popular publications like Time, the Washington Post, the Hill, USA Today, Politico, National Review, the New Criterion, andthe New York Daily News.

Smith earned his PhD in American history from Brandeis University. Previously, he was an associate professor of military history at the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), an assistant professor of history, and the director of the history program at William Woods University, and he has taught at additional colleges, including Tufts University.

He specializes in American Revolutionary, early American, and military history, specifically focusing on George Washington, honor, war, the founders, ethics, and national values. 

You may have also seen him on screen in places such as C-Span’s American History TV or CBS 2 New York or heard him on various podcasts like the Art of Manliness or as a frequent guest for Historians at the Movies. He is also co-host of National Defense University’s Jawbone podcast. 

Research interests:
American Revolution
The Founders
George Washington
Military history