CDR Christopher Schmidt is a native of Pensacola, Florida and 1990 graduate of the Florida State University where he received his Bachelors of Science in Nursing and commission as an Ensign. CDR Schmidt is also a graduate of the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center and holds a masters degree in Emergency/Trauma Nursing and post-masters certificate as an Emergency Nurse Practitioner. Commander Schmidt's Naval career is diverse, spans 21 years and covers all areas of the globe. He has served in multiple emergency and critical care nursing assignments at Naval Hospital's Pensacola, Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, Portsmouth, Virginia, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, and Okinawa Japan Commander Schmidt had the opportunity to serve aboard the marine amphibious ship USS Belleau Wood, in the Western Pacific and in 2004, deploy with U.S. Central Command Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa providing medical support for counter terrorist operations with the Navy’s first Expeditionary Medical Unit (EMU-10). In 2008, CDR Schmidt deployed for 15 months to Kabul, Afghanistan, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He served as the Chief Nurse of a Navy team embedded with members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) at the nation’s largest medical facility, charged with mentoring ANA medical leadership to bolster medical and nursing capabilities, introduce internationally accepted standards to improve clinical proficiency, and build a sustainable health care delivery system.
Commander Schmidt is a board certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Emergency Nurse, has held national certifications in Paramedics and Flight nursing. Additionally, he has held clinical faculty positions and nationally appointed positions within the Emergency Nurses Association, and authored several research and book chapters in the emergency nursing field. In 2003, the Navy Surgeon General appointed him as the Specialty Leader for Emergency/Trauma Nursing.
Schmidt is currently the Associate Director, Surgical Services at Naval Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida.