Erik Schmidt is a former US Marine and a veteran of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He served as a Federal Narcotics Detection K9 Officer for three years before becoming a local policeman in the Seattle area from 1999 to 2007. While serving in his law enforcement capacity his specialties included:
Narcotic Detector Dog Handler, Police Mountain Bike, Firearms Instructor (Pistol, Submachine Gun, Patrol Rifle), Defensive Tactics Instructor, Undercover Narcotics Interdiction, Civil Disturbance Cadre (Deployed during the WTO, N30 and Mardi Gras 2001 riots)
Today, Erik operates in the both the public and private sector for the US Marshal Service, providing uniformed and plain clothes protection details for foreign and domestic dignitaries, entertainment figures, fortune 100 clientele and federal judges.
Erik provides firearms instruction, personal safety consulting, executive protection, weapons/tactics consulting for several video game projects; and teaches defensive tactics/ martial arts through his company Pathfinder Combatives. Additionally, he assists with training events, High Value Asset Transport, special activities, and executive protection details internationally.
Currently a 5th degree black belt; Erik was inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame in October, 2017.
He has been trained and certified to operate as part of an Anti-Piracy Security team through the International Maritime Security Network for anti-piracy/ counter terror operations in East Africa. Holds a Maritime Captain License (OUPV/ Master 100 Ton) providing Anti Terror/ Force Protection for the US Navy aboard an armed civilian patrol boat. And is also a certified tactical tracker through the Tactical Tracking Operations School. (Rural Law Enforcement Academy, 2014)