Col. Jennifer Schmidt is the Director, Air National Guard Medical Service, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. As the Air National Guard Surgeon General, Col. Schmidt oversees mission execution of a $60 million annual budget enabling medical readiness of 106,000 Air National Guard warfighters and wartime readiness for 6,000 medics spanning across 90 wings throughout the United States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Col. Schmidt serves as the primary medical advisor to the Air National Guard Readiness Center Commander and the Director of the Air National Guard for the delivery of a ready medical force and medically ready Airmen.
Col. Schmidt received her commission in 1996 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program after graduating from Marquette University. Col. Schmidt spent 23 years as a drill-status guardsman before entering active service in 2019. She held numerous leadership positions within the 115 FW, including commands at Detachment and Group levels. Col. Schmidt has also held a variety of leadership positions within the National Guard Bureau. Of significance, she served as the Deputy Director, National Guard Bureau Office of the Joint Surgeon, supporting health policy and guidance, global health engagement, health service support, and oversight of medical operations within the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Response Enterprise. Col. Schmidt has also served as the Air National Guard Command Nurse and as the Air National Guard medical forces advisor to the Headquarters Air Force Surgeon General, where she advised on Air National Guard medical plans, programs, policies, readiness, training, force health protection, and response capabilities. Prior to assuming her current role, Col Schmidt served as the Deputy Director in the Air National Guard Surgeon’s Office.
Col. Schmidt deployed two times in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. In her civilian career, Col. Schmidt held clinical, teaching, and leadership roles in Emergency / Trauma Nursing followed by a specialty in Forensic Nursing.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science Nursing, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis.
2015 Air War College, by correspondence
2015 Squadron Commander Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2017 Commander’s Development Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2020 Joint Medical Operations Course, Falls Church, Va.
2020 Joint Medical Planners Course, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
2021 Air Force Medical Service Combined Senior Leaders Course, Falls Church, Va.
2022 Master of Arts, Executive Leadership, Liberty University, Leesburg, Va.
2022 Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute, Intermediate Executive Skills Course, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
2023 Joint Senior Medical Leaders Course, Falls Church, Va.
2023 Joint Combined Warfighting School-Hybrid, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2024 Interagency Institute for Federal Healthcare Workers, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2025 Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute, CAPSTONE Course, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1997 - February 2010, Clinical Nurse, 115th Medical Group, WI Air National Guard, Truax Field, Wis. (January 2001 - February 2001, February 2002 - March 2002, 363rd Expeditionary Medical Group, Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia)
2. February 2010 - September 2012, Chief Nurse / Trauma Nurse, CBRN Response Force Package, WI ANG, Truax Field, Wis.
3. September 2012 - November 2015, Chief Nurse, 115th Medical Group, WI ANG, Truax Field, Wis.
4. November 2015 - October 2016, Commander, 115th Medical Group, Detachment One, CBRN Response Force Package, WI ANG, Truax Field, Wis.
5. October 2016 - December 2019, Commander, 115th Medical Group, WI ANG, Truax Field, Wis.
6. December 2019 - October 2021, Chief of Clinical Services and Chief Nurse, Air National Guard Medical Service, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
7. October 2021 - March 2023, Deputy Director, Office of the Joint Surgeon, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Va.
8. March 2023 - March 2024, ANG Medical Forces Advisor to Headquarters Air Force Surgeon General, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Va.
9. March 2024 - September 2025, Deputy Director, Air National Guard Medical Service, JB Andrews, Md.
10. September 2025 - present, Director, Air National Guard Medical Service, JB Andrews, Md.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with “V” device with six oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal with two service stars
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with six oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two hourglass devices
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant February 20, 1997
First Lieutenant February 20, 1999
Captain March 17, 2001
Major June 9, 2005
Lieutenant Colonel January 6, 2011
Colonel November 1, 2016
(Current as of December 2025)