Executive Officer
Cmdr. Jared "Red" Schmitt

Cmdr. Jared A. Schmitt, a native of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He completed flight training in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Pensacola, Florida, and was designated as a naval aviator in February 2009.  After flight school, he reported to Airborne Mine Countermeasures Weapon Systems Training School (AWSTS) for training in the MH-53E Sea Dragon.
 
Schmitt’s first tour was at Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14, Norfolk, Virginia, from 2009-2013, during which he participated in Operation Unified Response in Haiti, Task Force Ghazi in Pakistan, Operation Enduring Freedom in the Persian Gulf, Foal Eagle in South Korea, and Hurricane Sandy relief in New York.  Upon completion of his initial sea tour, Schmitt reported to AWSTS to serve as a fleet replacement squadron (FRS) instructor pilot from 2013-2016.  During this tour, he completed the Sea Dragon weapons and tactics instructor (SWTI) syllabus as well as his Executive Master’s in Business Administration from Naval Postgraduate School. 
 
Schmitt returned to HM-14 as a SWTI from 2016-2017, participating in a Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, Hurricane Harvey relief in Houston, Hurricane Maria relief in Puerto Rico, and multiple exercises in South Korea. Schmitt’s department head tour was at HM-15 from 2018-2020, where he served as safety officer, officer in charge (OIC) of the squadron’s Bahrain detachment, and maintenance officer. During this tour he completed Joint Professional Military Education Phase 1 through the Air Command and Staff College. Upon completion of his department head tour, Schmitt reported to Naval Personnel Command Millington, Tennessee, to serve as helicopter shore assignments officer from 2020-2021.
 
Schmitt returned to HM-14 a third time as executive officer from 2022-2023, participating in RIMPAC 2022 and flying HM-14’s final Homeguard flight in December 2022 while preparing the squadron for disestablishment after 45 years of service.
 
Schmitt’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals, two Humanitarian Service Medals, 2012 Naval Helicopter Association (NHA) Region Four Pilot of the Year, 2017 Wes Van Dorn Pilot of the Year, and various other campaign and unit level awards.