Marine Corps commandant returns to full duty after recovering from heart attack

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith has returned to full duty service, after suffering a heart attack in late October and undergoing open-heart surgery in January, the Marine Corps announced Tuesday.

Smith resumed his “full duties and authorities” as the Marine Corps commandant Tuesday, the statement read.

“General Smith and his family appreciate the full support of Congress, the leadership at the Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, the Joint Force, and all who extended them their well wishes during his recovery,” the statement read.

Smith suffered a heart attack and collapsed while on a run on Oct. 29. He was quickly taken to a hospital where doctors discovered his bicuspid aortic valve, a heart abnormality that can cause problems later in life.

Smith underwent successful open-heart surgery in January to repair the defective valve that caused the heart attack. The Marine Corps said at the time Smith would return to full duty “following his rehabilitation.”

Marine Corps Assistant Commandant Gen. Christopher Mahoney has performed the duties of Commandant since Nov. 3, and he now resumes his role as assistant commandant, the statement read.

Mahoney’s nomination was held up by Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) months-long block on military confirmations. Smith’s medical emergency in late October highlighted the glaring holes in the Pentagon — and the consequences of Tuberville’s hold —when no serving assistant commandant was ready to assume the duties.

Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, the deputy commandant for combat development and integration and commanding general of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, instead assumed the duties, before Mahoney was confirmed in early November.