Captain Richard Schmidt is a native of Columbus, Ohio. He attended the University of Dayton from 2005 to 2009, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentration in Entrepreneurship and Finance. He was commissioned in the Marine Corps upon completion of Officer Candidate School in 2018. Following commissioning as a Second Lieutenant, he attended The Basic School and was assigned to the Field Artillery Military Occupation Specialty.
In 2018, Second Lieutenant Schmidt attended the Field Artillery Basic Officer Course. In December 2019, he reported to 5th Battalion, 14th Marines at Seal Beach, California. Shortly thereafter, he began a professional development tour with 1st Battalion, 11th Marines at Camp Pendleton, California.
From January 2020 to June 2020, he served as a Battalion Fire Support Officer. He then served as a Fire Direction Officer from July 2020 to August 2020, and concluded his tour as a Company Fire Support Officer from August 2020 to January 2021. While at 1st Battalion 11th Marines, he supported Integrated Training Exercise 1-21 and Steel Knight.
Upon returning to 5th Battalion, 14th Marines, First Lieutenant Schmidt served as a Company Liaison Officer to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines, supporting Integrated Training Exercise 4-21 in June 2021. From October 2021 to February 2023, he was the Executive Officer of Battery N, 5th Battalion, 14th Marines.
Following his time in the firing battery, First Lieutenant Schmidt then served in the Battalion Operations Section as a Battalion Fire Direction Officer from February 2023 to September 2023 including Integrated Training Exercise 4-23. Following this, Captain Schmidt was selected as the Executive Officer of Headquarters Battery, serving from September 2023 to November 2024. He then returned to the Operations Section as the Assistant Operations Officer from December 2024 to August 2025.
In August 2025, Captain Schmidt joined 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines, and in December 2025, he took command of Headquarters Battery.
Captain Schmidt's personal awards include three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.