Lt. David Schmitz Scholarship Foundation

On June 30, 2020, Lt David Schmitz tragically lost his life due to fatal injuries that occurred during a training mission at Shaw AFB.  He is survived by his wife Valerie and their dog Toby, his parents Brian and Sherrie Schmitz and his sister Laura Schmitz.  With the love, support, and guidance of Dave's widow Valerie and his parents, we have created the Lt David Schmitz Scholarship Foundation.  The purpose of this foundation is to support young men and women who want to pursue a career in aviation but have encountered obstacles similar to ones Lt Schmitz experienced on his journey to becoming a fighter pilot.

Dave’s story is amazing, a story that deserves a legacy that can inspire future generations of aviators, for decades to come.  The purpose of the Lt David Schmitz Scholarship Foundation is exactly that, to inspire those who are driven, determined, and also have a love of flying.

Dave’s interest in flying began well before high-school, however, unexpected challenge during his high school years lead him to flying. At 16, Dave’s parents gifted him flight lessons and flying quickly became a healthy escape from the challenges that he was experiencing. Dave began training in a Cessna and eventually earned his Private Pilot's License at 17.

After high school graduation, he attended Mesa College and enrolled in Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at San Diego State in hopes to compete for a pilot slot.  Dave was a member of Arnold Air Society and he co-founded an aeronautical club at SDSU (Success Enabled Pilots (SEP)).  SEP was a service organization aimed at developing leaders who had a passion for aviation.  Dave excelled in ROTC and all of his extracurricular activities, he was also one of the top cadets in his class.  Prior to completing his degree at SDSU, Dave made the decision to enlist in the USAF, where he became a loadmaster on the C-17. 

It was during his time as a loadmaster that he met and fell in love with Valerie, the love of his life.  Valerie and David were married in 2013.

During the beginning of his career as a loadmaster, he was a proud member of the 4th Airlift Squadron at McChord AFB, WA.  He worked tirelessly to become an Evaluator Loadmaster and was selected as one of only a handful of loadmasters in the Air Force assigned to the nuclear mission on the C-17.  Although Dave’s personal and professional life were flourishing, he decided to take on the challenge of finishing his undergraduate degree.  He did so in order to re-attack his dream of becoming a USAF pilot.  Dave’s Officer Training School application displayed a history of accomplishments; to add value, the application was accompanied by heart-felt letters of recommendation from respected individuals.  While he was compiling his OTS application, Dave had one class left to finish his degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  Despite a strong application, due to a couple of classes at SDSU, Dave’s GPA was just below the OTS requirement; his application was denied.  Dave was well aware he was nearing the age limit to apply for pilot training and had to wait another cycle before he could submit his application.  Dave could have easily stayed the course in his enlisted career, with success; however, he did not give up on his lifelong dream.  When he was able to reapply to OTS, and classes were complete, he resubmitted his application, with a GPA above the OTS requirement.  This time, he was accepted.

Dave and Valerie moved to Laughlin AFB, TX to attend pilot training where he graduated as #1 in his class and was selected to fly the F-16.  After pilot training he attended a 4-month Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals course at Sheppard AFB where he eared the Air-to-Air Top Gun award.  Following Sheppard, they moved to Holloman AFB, NM, where Dave learned to fly the F-16, with the 8th Fighter Squadron.  Toward the end of his training he was selected to go to Shaw AFB, SC to fly as a Wild Weasel in the 77th Fighter Squadron.  Dave did exceptionally well on all of his training flights at Shaw AFB, which lead to frequent praise from his instructors.  He was seen as valuable addition to the Gambler team and Weasel Nation as he was not only a skilled pilot, but a genuinely incredible human being.

On June 30, 2020, Dave flew his last flight.  Tragically, Dave was fatally wounded during the training sortie at Shaw AFB. 

Dave's story has inspired so many.  He inspired people to be the best of themselves, to be a better friend, a better spouse, a better Airman, and his legacy must live on and be honored.  This foundation is dedicated to providing scholarships to young men and women with incredible potential, who much like Dave, who may have been told "no", many times on their journey. It is our belief, that those driven, intelligent, incredible young individuals that are told “no” one too many times, must also have resources that can help them realize their dreams.

Lt David Schmitz Scholarship Foundation will host an annual run, at bases around the country, to raise money so that it may have a lasting impact on those who want to pursue their education and become a pilot.  Thank you for your generous giving and reading Lt Schmitz's incredible story of persistence, drive, and determination.