Gen. Eric Smith, the Marine Corps Commandant, was hospitalized suddenly on Oct. 29. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Shannon Doherty)
WASHINGTON — The sudden hospitalization of Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith, combined with a longstanding hold on senior military confirmations in the Senate, has resulted in the service now being led, at least temporarily, by a three-star officer.
The service on Monday announced Smith was hospitalized the evening before due to a “medical emergency” without providing additional details of his condition at the time. USNI News first reported Smith suffered an apparent heart attack.
Traditionally, if a service chief is unable to perform their job, their four-star deputy — in this case, the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps — would step in as the acting service chief. But due to hundreds of senior military promotions being held up in the Senate by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., the Marines currently lack a confirmed four-star vice chief.
Smith was previously the assistant commandant before being confirmed as commandant last month; Lt. Gen. Christopher Mahoney has been nominated to become the Marines’ second most senior officer, but has not been confirmed. The Marine Corps on Monday said the duties of the commandant will fall on Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, a three-star and the most senior officer assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps.
“In typical Marine fashion, I am the next Marine up. This is what we do, as so many have done before us throughout the history of our Corps,” Heckl said in a Tuesday statement. “We must continue the march forward on behalf of our fellow Marines and Nation, regardless of the situation or the uncertainty that we may face. That is what our commandant wants, and what the citizens of our nation require of each and every one of us.”
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Several lawmakers on Monday evening issued statements wishing Smith good health but did not address how Tuberville’s holds on military promotion have impacted the situation.
“I am wishing General Smith a speedy recovery. He is one of our nation’s finest and toughest leaders, and I hope he will return to full strength soon. My thoughts are with General Smith and his family,” said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Updated 10/31/2023 at 3:36 pm ET with comments from Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl.
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