Col. Schmidt is a military professor in the National Security Affairs Department. He was commissioned in 1997 through the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class program. He has served over 25 years as an adjutant and manpower planner with experience ranging from the battalion level to Headquarters, Marine Corps to include three operational deployments to Afghanistan. As a lieutenant colonel, he commanded a Marine Corps Embassy Security Guard Region. Col. Schmidt is a graduate of Marine Corps Command and Staff College (Distance), Air War College (Distance), and U.S. Naval War College. He most recently served at HQMC in the Manpower and Reserve Affairs Department.