Brigadier General (BGen) Schmidt, a native of Robinson, Illinois, graduated from Campbell University with a degree in History and Political Science. Prior to commissioning, BGen Schmidt served as a Marine infantryman from 1991 to 1997 and was subsequently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in April 1997 via the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Program.
After graduating The Basic School and the Infantry Officer's Course, he was assigned to 2d Battalion, 6th Marines, where he served as Weapons Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer, and Company Commander. Subsequently, he was assigned to the School of Infantry where he served as Company Executive Officer, Company Commander, and Battalion Operations Officer. Following the Expeditionary Warfare School, he served as a summer augment to Officer Candidates School as a Platoon Commander and was then assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines as a Company Commander.
BGen Schmidt's operational assignments as a field grade officer include: Inspector-Instructor, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines; assignments with Marine Special Operations Command where he served as G35, G33, and Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Africa J5; Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Executive Officer, 7th Marines; Assistant Chief of Staff G-5 and II Marine Expeditionary Force Liaison Officer to Sixth Fleet; and Commanding Officer, The Basic School. Also serving as the Ground Combat Element in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response Africa and Black Sea Rotational Force.
His staff and supporting establishment assignments include: Commandant of the Marine Corps Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Operations Officer for Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Groups; Executive Assistant to Deputy Commandant, Plans, Policies and Operations; Chief of Staff, III Marine Expeditionary Force; and Executive Assistant to Deputy Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs. In 2024 he filled the billet of acting Deputy Commander, Marine Corps Forces Central Command. On July 28, 2025, he assumed the duties of Assistant Division Commander, 2nd Marine Division. In March 2026 he filled the billet of acting Deputy Commander, Marine Corps Forces Central Command during Operation Epic Fury. On June 1, 2026 Brigadier General Schmidt assumed command of Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
Brigadier General Schmidt is a graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School, School of Advanced Warfighting, Marine Corps Command and Staff Seminar Program, U.S. Army War College, and United Kingdom Higher Command and Staff College. He holds a Master of Business Administration from American Military University and a Master of Military Studies from Marine Corps University.