General Christopher Hunter Shmit IV, a native of Columbia City, Indiana, is the Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Marine Option Program. 

Operational Command and Special Operations

Following his commission, General Shmit reported to The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia. His foundational years were spent at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, where he served as a Series Commander. He was subsequently assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, completing multiple combat tours in Iraq and assuming command of the company. Following his time with the infantry, General Shmit served as the Training Officer for the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group (MCESG), Region 2.

General Shmit transitioned to the special operations community after successfully completing the Marine Raider Assessment and Selection process. After qualifying as a Critical Skills Operator, he was assigned to the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Raider Regiment, at Camp Pendleton, California. During his tenure with the Raiders, he led a Marine Special Operations Team (MSOT) and, upon his promotion to Major, took command of a Marine Special Operations Company (MSOC), leading multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan. He later returned to the 1st Marine Raider Battalion to serve as its Commanding Officer in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

As a Colonel, General Shmit served as the Operations Officer for Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC). 

Education and Military Training

Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Notre Dame

Master of Operational Studies, Marine Corps University

Master of Strategic Studies, Marine Corps University

Graduate, U.S. Army Ranger School

Graduate, U.S. Army Airborne School

Personal

General Shmit is the proud father of three children: two adopted sons and one adopted daughter.

Chronology of Key Assignments

Series Commander, MCRD Parris Island, SC

Company Commander, Alpha Co, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines (Iraq)

Training Officer, MCESG Region 2

MSOC Commander, 1st Marine Raider Battalion (Afghanistan)

Commanding Officer, 1st Marine Raider Battalion

Operations Officer, MARSOC

Director, Strategy and Plans, HQMC

Director, White House Military Office

Director, Marine Corps Staff

Commanding General, I MEF

Deputy Commander, US Forces Korea

Commander, US Forces Japan

Deputy Commander, US Indo-Pacific Command

Commander, US Indo-Pacific Command

Commandant, United States Marine Corps

Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

Acting Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (Current)