Lt. Col. Heather L. Schmitt is a native of Florida. Born in Miami, grew up in Sarasota, and graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa. She enlisted in the Army in May 2001 as a Broadcast Journalist (46R). She attended basic training at Fort Jackson, SC and advanced individual training at Fort Meade, MD at the Defense Information School (DINFOS). She was then assigned to the American Forces Network-Korea (AFN-K) in Yongsan, South Korea until 2005. In June 2005, she attended the Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA where she was commissioned as an Ordnance Officer. Her first assignment as an officer was with the 368th Cargo Transfer Company, 11th Transportation Battalion at Fort Story, VA. She deployed with the unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08 and served as a Platoon Leader/OIC of the LSA Anaconda Central Receiving and Shipping Point (CRSP). Upon redeployment, she was then assigned as the Battalion Adjutant. In August 2009, she was assigned to Fort Riley, KS where she served as the S3 Battle Captain deployed with the 701st Brigade Support Battalion (BSB), 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-11. While downrange, she took command of the 701st BSB Field Maintenance Company and served as the Commander until April 2011. Following command, she completed her master's degree as part of the Advanced Civil Schooling Program. From January 2013 to May 2015, she served her utilization tour as a Force Developer at the Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM) Headquarters in Fort Lee, VA. After graduating the Command & General Staff Course in 2016, she completed her key developmental positions at Fort Stewart, GA as a Brigade Logistics Support Team Chief with the Army Field Support Battalion, a Battalion XO for the 703rd BSB, and the deputy G4 for 3rd Infantry Division. In June 2019, she served as the Recruiting & Marketing Chief at US Army Cadet Command where she was then selected to be the Executive Officer to the Commanding General of US Army Recruiting Command in July 2020.
Schmitt holds a master's degree in business administration from the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, FL and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. Her military education includes the Primary Leadership Development Course, Army Officer Candidate School, Ordnance Officer Basic Course, the Combined Logistics Captains Career Course, and the Command & General Staff Officer Course.
Her awards include the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster, and the Iraqi Campaign Medal with three campaign stars.