About
Retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel dedicated to serving those who serve. Proven leader…
Services
Articles by Kevin
Activity
34K followers
-
Kevin Schmiegel shared thisService can be as simple as “showing up” for your community. And Noah Currier has been “showing up” for ours every day since the moment he realized staying “on the move” or #OscarMike was the key to #thriving. Since starting the Oscar Mike Foundation 15 years ago, 1,500 Veterans with significant disabilities have been through their life-changing programs. The #1 measure of their impact since its inception on 11/11/11 — Not a single Veteran has taken his or her own life since they joined the Oscar Mike movement. It’s a connected community — a #tribe — that shows up for one another again and again That was on full display last night at the hometown premiere of “Sum Function” a film that Noah produced and co-directed over the past few years and has been critically acclaimed with numerous awards at three different film festivals in Annapolis, Beverly Hills and Houston. Laura Schmiegel and I were proud to #showup for and with Noah and the Oscar Mike Militia in front of a hometown crowd in Rockford Illinois that couldn’t stop the tears, the joy, and the cheering for what Noah has created with this film — not just for Veterans but for the disabled community as a whole and for anyone who has faced or will face struggles in their life. We were proud to share this very special evening with Amit Acharya from PLS Class X and his wife Rohini Acharya, and welcome them to the Oscar Mike family, which we are tremendously proud to be a part of too. . #America250 #ActionsSpeakLouder #Day84 #250DaysOfService #SemperFidelis
-
Kevin Schmiegel shared thisIn 10 days ZeroMils will host our 3rd Annual Military Thriving Change Forum at Georgetown. Our focus is on better transition outcomes for service members, Veterans, and military spouses as students, employees, and entrepreneurs. Our focus is on empowerment not entitlement. On transformation, not transition. On finding the 5 things every Veteran and military spouse needs to thrive in the workplace and in society. Our focus is on fostering unprecedented collaboration in regions of the country that are poised for growth but hindered by skills gaps in industries that are vital to national security. In that spirit, over the next 10 days of 250 Days of Service, I will spotlight Veterans who found purpose and continued serving when they put on a different uniform as civilians. Captain Kathrine Lukes spent 7+ years in the Marine Corps as a company commander and supply officer — leading 400+ Marines and civilians at Camp Pendleton, managing $6 million in assets, and earning an MBA in supply chain and operations along the way. When her active duty was ending, she joined the Solar Ready Vets Fellowship and landed as Operations Manager at Icarus RT, a solar energy startup, on day one of civilian life. "I use things that I learned from the military every day," she said. Wind energy technician is the fastest-growing job in America. Solar isn't far behind. The Marine Corps produces exactly the kind of systems-thinkers and operators these industries desperately need. Kathrine never stopped serving when she left the Marine Corps. She redirected her service toward an industry that is vital to our national security and the energy infrastructure America depends on. #America250 #Day83 #250DaysOfService #VeteranTransition #RenewableEnergy Source: The Business Download
-
Kevin Schmiegel shared thisThere's no better example of a “power couple” in our military and veteran connected community than Matt and Kelly McGraw. Matt McGraw spent a career as a Navy SEAL officer — deploying repeatedly into harm's way during the Global War on Terror, serving at the tip of the spear so the rest of us could sleep soundly. He gave everything the mission demanded. And when his time in uniform ended, he did what so many of our finest Special Operators do — he faced the hardest transition of his life. He went through The Honor Foundation. He became a THF alumnus. And Kelly McGraw didn't just watch from the sidelines. She had already been there — as Matt's partner through more than two decades of SEAL life, through the deployments, the uncertainty, the sacrifices that military families carry quietly and without complaint. She knew firsthand what transition really costs. Not just professionally. Personally. In identity. In purpose. In the question every warrior eventually faces: Who am I when the uniform comes off? So she went to work on that problem. For 17 years, Kelly has led growth and fundraising inside mission-driven organizations. She joined The Honor Foundation in 2020 and spent 6 years building its impact — helping scale THF to 10 physical campuses, two virtual campuses, and thousands of Special Operations veterans and families served annually. On May 1, 2026, she became THF's CEO. The new CEO of The Honor Foundation is a military spouse. A SEAL family. Someone who has lived every part of this story from the first deployment to the final transition. In addition to choosing again and again to serve alongside Matt on active duty, she chose to build her life's work around making that journey better for others. Matt and Kelly aren’t just a power couple, they represent the complete loop of service — from the Teams to the transition, from the sacrifice to the solution. With Kelly’s recent assumption of duties as the CEO of THF and with Matt by her side, the SOF community is in good hands. #PowerCouple #MilitaryThriving #Day82 #250DaysOfService #HonorFoundation #SpecialOperations
-
Kevin Schmiegel shared thisToday Laura Schmiegel and I celebrate 10 years of marriage. Over the past few weeks I’ve spotlighted some pretty amazing couples who represent our military and veteran connected community both in and out of uniform. Several things became abundantly clear as I shared their stories of #service and #sacrifice. First, each of these leaders made #choices as individuals to serve in their own unique ways, knowing the other would not only support those decisions but would step up and make personal sacrifices in order to enable their other half to achieve their full potential. Secondly, they made those decisions together, as a family, understanding the implications of those choices. They chose country over self. Lastly, they became powerful sources of good, because of one undeniable truth: they had each other’s backs, no matter what, personally and professionally, when the stakes were high. They were resolutely there for one another when struggles and challenges were real; when it felt like no one else believed in them and they doubted themselves; when failure was inevitable, and together, they made success inevitable. I could tell you 10,000 stories from the past decade about my soulmate, Laura Schmiegel. Stories of her service and selflessness. Acts of kindness, compassion, and empathy that have gone unseen and unheard. She is a leader. She doesn’t care who gets the credit when it comes to making g change for our community. She is brilliant, extraordinary, amazing. Every morning, throughout every day and every night, she has been there for me to bounce ideas; to hear me vent; to help me do better and inspire me to do more and never give up. And I am there for her in exactly the same way. The same can be said about every power couple I’ve spotlighted during Military Appreciation Month. To all of these leaders: for the choices you made to serve and sacrifice as individuals and as families, Laura and I salute you and say thank you for the inspiration. And as we celebrate 10 years together we celebrate every one of you. George & Sheila Casey Norty & Suzie Schwartz Keith Davids & Yvette Davids Rey & Samantha Domingo, MBA CQ & Sharene Brown Leonidas & Niki Marin Hon. John B. Sherman and Liz Tisch Sherman Verenice & Tony Castillo JoAnne & Rahm Bass Nancy and Pat Lacore Nicole and Travis Mann Emmanuel and Angelica Ramirez Below are two of my favorites. In each moment the person taking the picture captured us looking at one another when the other was being recognized in a very special way. If you were there, or even now if you look real close at our eyes you will see the recognition that our accomplishments professionally were shared because we served and because we sacrificed together. And we are going to do exactly that for decades to come. #Day81 #250DaysOfService
-
Kevin Schmiegel shared this5 years ago today on May 27, 2021, Emmanuel and Angelica Ramirez retired together after 5 decades of collective service in the United States Air Force. I remember reading their story thinking there’w no better example of a #PowerCouple in our military and veteran connected community than Emmanuel and Angelica. They enlisted just months apart in 1995 — Emmanuel from Los Angeles, Angelica from El Paso — and reported to their first duty station at Nellis Air Force Base. A year later, they were rollerblading on the Las Vegas Strip with mutual friends. They started dating. And a year after that, they were married. It turns out, they may have been destined to find each other long before Nevada. As Emmanuel later discovered, Angelica grew up in the same Los Angeles neighborhood where his grandmother lived. She shopped at the same corner store where he bought his candy as a kid. As I get ready to celebrate 10 years of marriage to Laura Schmiegel tomorrow it occurs to me that some things are just meant to be. Together, Emmanuel and gave the United States Air Force 52 years of combined service. 26 years each. 24 of them married. They deployed multiple times, sometimes simultaneously, leaving their children in the care of a Family Care Plan, trusting each other and trusting the mission. They never asked whose career mattered more. They never kept score. They communicated. They had each other's back, 💯%, in everything and anything. Some would say that it was their choice to make the military their careers, discounting their service and the sacrifices they made as a couple and as a family. I would say they made a #choice and kept choosing to serve their country. Emmanuel said it best when asked what advice he'd give other dual-military couples: "Just because both of you are serving, one is not more important than the other." This isn’t just good advice for a military marriage. That's the foundation of every great partnership, both in uniform and out. Emmanuel and Angelica, congratulations on 52 years of service and a lifetime of “leading each other” well. Senior Master Sergeant and Senior Master Sergeant. Same rank. Same commitment. One team, One Mission. Service. Photo: SMSGT Emmanuel Ramirez, 729th Air Control Squadron, and SMSGT Angelica Ramirez, 75th Force Support Squadron, pose at their favorite spot at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, May 21, 2021. (Source: Cynthia Griggs) #PowerCouple #MilitaryThriving #Day80 #250DaysOfService
-
Kevin Schmiegel reposted thisKevin Schmiegel reposted thisWhen a forum focused on change becomes a movement…. This year's 3rd Annual Military Thriving Change Forum features community leaders from 6 cities, each committed to hosting their own Regional Change Forum in 2026 and 2027. What happens at Georgetown on June 10 doesn’t stay at Georgetown. The collaboration and sharing of best practices goes home with the leaders committed to building something extraordinary at the local level. That's how you build a Military Thriving nation — one city, one community, one leader at a time. June 10. Georgetown University. Be part of what comes next. Last chance to register and attend in person at the 🔗 in comments. Photo: Backdrop for the 2nd Annual Military Thriving Change Forum with empty seats on a stage and at tables. It’s time for you to take your seat, and be part of change! #MilitaryThriving #RegionalChangeForums #ZeroMils #CoalitionOfTheCommitted
-
Kevin Schmiegel shared thisOver the past 3 days I put #250DaysOfService on hold, taking pause to remember and honor fallen heroes like Kevin Shea and Jesse Melton III over the Memorial Day Weekend. But I didn’t forget Days 76 through 78 of a campaign started in March that will commemorate America’s 250th on July 4th and the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and end by celebrating Veterans continued service on Veterans Day. One of the themes that keeps coming back again and again is the sacrifices that military spouses make alongside the Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen they serve with. Military spouses, in my opinion, don’t get enough credit for the #sacrifices they make. They married someone in uniform, and in many cases — in the face of deployments, long separations, and frequent moves they chose to continue serving, when the service member they loved raised their right hand at reenlistments and promotion ceremonies. They said “yes” knowingly, and they chose to make a further commitment, too. This doesn’t diminish the importance or the weight of that decision to serve, and yes, continuing to sacrifice. Make no mistake about it that decision comes with a tremendous sense of pride, responsibility and patriotism. I don’t blame others for not understanding or empathizing with these #choices. Often times it comes from a lack of perspective. The truth is not all experiences are created equal. Walking in someone else’s shoes is hard when you have no context of the challenges and harsh realities someone else faces. On the day after Memorial Day I’m sharing photos of 3 amazing Gold Star Spouses who once made choices as military spouses at reenlistments and promotion ceremonies in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. They did so knowingly when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were at their heights when Marines and Sailors were facing two combat deployments during a conventional operational tours of duty. When Soldiers deployed to both war zones for a year or 15 months. Today all 3 of these Gold Star spouses continue to serve, extraordinarily as leaders in nonprofits that have impacted hundreds pf thousands of lives. Today on the #79thDay of #250DaysOfService, I honor their service and sacrifices then and now. And I honor the military spouses who will follow in their footsteps in a time of peace, knowing that conflict in this world is inevitable. Photos: Emily Muñoz Director of Program Innovation at Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors; her husband Army Captain Gil Munoz died on February 9, 2005. Lisa Hallett, co-founder and CEO of wear blue: run to remember; her husband Army Captain John L. Hallett IIII killed in action in Afghanistan on August 25, 2009 Heather Kelly, Director of Advancement at Travis Manion Foundation; her husband Marine 1stLt Robert Kelly, killed in action in Afghanistan on November 9, 2010. #NeverForget
-
Kevin Schmiegel shared thisWe will never forget. Photo: Memorial Day 2024, Section 60, Arlington National Cemetery.
-
Kevin Schmiegel reposted thisKevin Schmiegel reposted this18 years ago on September 9, 2008 Captain Jesse Melton III, USMC was killed in Afghanistan, just two months shy of his 30th birthday. Our team at ZeroMils - Paul, Monica, and Kevin - came to know Jesse’s mother Janice and his sister Army Veteran Jenine Melton through our service together at various events, creating #militarythriving communities in DC, VA and MD. As a Gold Star Mom, Janice honors Jesse’s legacy by continuing to serve others and, for her, that work has made all the difference in her healing process. Several years ago Janice said these words and they are at the very heart of our mission to demonstrate the strength, courage and resilience of our military and veteran connected community. “When Jesse made his ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan, I determined in my heart I was not going to drown in my tears or be paralyzed by my pain. I know that, for the service members that we deliver care packages to, it’s going to show them that we care. They have put themselves on the line. We’ve got to say ‘We appreciate what you do every day,’ because when they leave their house, they don’t know that they’re going to come back. We need to be a part of making a change in our society and making a difference in people’s lives.” #NeverForget #SemperFidelis #MemorialDayWeekend
Kevin Schmiegel replied to a comment
17h
Amit Acharya it is a family you and Rohini Anand PhD will always be a part of. Thank you for sharing this incredible experience with us.
Kevin Schmiegel replied to a comment
17h
Laura Schmiegel I have a feeling we were part of history last night. I’m so glad we got to witness it firsthand.
Kevin Schmiegel replied to a comment
1d
ZeroMils can’t wait to have our entire team — Paul, Monica, Tommy, and Doug together in our nation’s capital.
alongside 150 leaders committed to changing the broken Veteran narrative and empowering our community as catalysts for growth, change and impact at the local level.
-
Kevin Schmiegel liked thisKevin Schmiegel liked thisYou can’t tell us you are a high-performer You show it through the work you've done to prepare For everything #quinnsights See you could achieve rank and go to some amazing schools in the military Get lots of awards But if you don’t put in the work to #prepare for your military transition Really, really prepare You aren’t a high-performer ⭐️ out here ⭐️ You are the adult still talking about their high school athletic achievents. 😞 It is going to take hundreds of hours of work Get started
-
Kevin Schmiegel reacted on thisKevin Schmiegel reacted on thisI miss you, sister, and celebrate your first birthday in Heaven with Jesus. My sister Debbie passed away suddenly by multiple brain aneurisms back on February 2, 2026. During the time at the hospital, I was able to ask her kids, grandkids, our family, and friends what their favorite memories of Debbie were. Ultimately, through the help of technology and a friend, these memories were made into a song. When I asked my wife what her favorite memory was, she shared being with my sister Debbie in my mom’s log cabin last year after my mother had passed away in March 2025, and Debbie had said, “Gayla, I imagine Mom is in Heaven with God’s arm around her looking down at us, and saying, “You done good, Theresa, you done good.”” My wife also shared that anytime somebody speaks of a story that represents Debbie’s heart, she thinks of this story, and imagines God’s arm around Debbie, looking down at us, saying “You done good, Deborah, you done good.” So please join me in celebrating my sister’s life by listening to the song, titled “You Done Good, Deborah.” You can find the video on my FB post here: https://lnkd.in/gybsgC9M. Hope you enjoy it, it really represents her life well and her faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I hope you also enjoy some of the fun photos.
-
Kevin Schmiegel liked thisKevin Schmiegel liked this"You don't have to go to college, but you do have to have a plan." Those were the words we shared with our son a few years ago as he entered his junior year of high school. And have a plan he did. Fast forward to today, we're excited to share that Lucas has been accepted into the Elevator Union! We couldn't be prouder of the determination and commitment he has shown in pursuing his goals. Please join us in congratulating Lucas!!! 👏 Lucas, we are incredibly proud of you for following your dreams and forging your own path. We look forward to watching you take your future to the next level! ⬆️
-
Kevin Schmiegel liked thisKevin Schmiegel liked thisExcited to share we are #hiring on the LIFT team! If you have deep experience with implementing HQIM and strengthening instructional leadership at scale, you may be a strong fit to lead the strategy and execution of district engagement, field visits, and approved provider vetting, support, and evaluation in service to hundreds of districts in Texas.
-
Kevin Schmiegel liked thisKevin Schmiegel liked this🎖️As #MilitaryAppreciationMonth comes to a close we'd like to take the time to recognize the service members and Veterans whose leadership and dedication continue to make a difference. At Neighborly®, supporting military personnel and their families means creating opportunities to lead, grow, and build their next chapter through business ownership, backed by mentorship, peer networks, and a strong sense of community. Hear from our Director of Military Services, Tommy Jones on how we invest in those who have served. Ready to take the next step? Explore franchising opportunities: https://hubs.ly/Q04hHS_M0 #Neighborly #VeteranSupport #ServiceLeadership #FranchiseOwnership
Experience & Education
-
ZeroMils
View Kevin’s full experience
See their title, tenure and more.
or
Volunteer Experience
-
Member Board Of Directors
Dog Tag
- 4 years 1 month
i18n_veterans
Proudly served as Board Member for 4 years
Other similar profiles
Explore more posts
Explore top content on LinkedIn
Find curated posts and insights for relevant topics all in one place.
View top contentOthers named Kevin Schmiegel
4 others named Kevin Schmiegel are on LinkedIn
See others named Kevin Schmiegel