Ask Michael Schmitt what makes an organization succeed, and the answer stays the same regardless of industry: clear expectations, strong systems, capable and empowered teams, and accountability to measurable standards. That philosophy has held constant across military service, corporate healthcare, entrepreneurship, and federal technology.

He learned it first in the United States Marine Corps, where 20 years of leadership across worldwide assignments taught him that preparation and resilience determine outcomes, and that developing others matters as much as any single mission. Many of the Marines he mentored went on to lead teams of their own.

He carried the same principles into the private sector, earning top-performer recognition at Pfizer and Medtronic while operating inside strict regulatory frameworks that reward precision and ethical decision-making. When he founded Central Tox LLC, doing business as Semper Fi Labs, in 2014, he applied that thinking to building an organization, leading development of the proprietary Elevate laboratory information system and establishing a culture where operational excellence was the norm. Central Tox is the only SDVOSB holding a National MOU and an Interservice Security Agreement, and its multi-year Exceptional CPARS ratings, awarded by government evaluators, reflect consistent execution.

His work in health information technology through PHI Fortress, the only SDVOSB operating within the AWS GovCloud VA enterprise space, applies the same discipline to healthcare interoperability for veterans, earning the 2026 FORUM Innovation Award for a production-ready solution.

Michael believes that while technologies, regulations, and markets change, the fundamentals of leadership do not. Integrity, preparation, adaptability, and accountability remain the foundation of durable success. He holds two bachelor's degrees and an MBA, and he supports the Wounded Warrior Project, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and the ASPCA.