Lieutenant Colonel Ariel M. Schuetz

Battalion Commander / 15^th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation) / 116^th Military Intelligence Brigade (Aerial Intelligence)

Lt. Col. Ariel M. Schuetz is a native of Power Springs, Georgia and commissioned through Tulane University ROTC in 2005. She served as a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot before transitioning to become a Military Intelligence Aviator in 2012.

Lt. Col. Schuetz has served in a variety of staff and leadership positions during her career. She was a Company Executive Officer, Platoon Leader, and assistant Operations Officer in the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade. During this time, she deployed twice to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in support of a JSOC numbered Task Force and Multi-National Forces-Iraq. She commanded a UAS company and ISR detachment in Task Force ODIN supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM then worked as an Observer Coach Trainer at the Army’s Joint Readiness Training Center. She later led capability development efforts for Army UAS then served as a Battalion Operations and Executive Officer in the 3rd Aerial Exploitation Battalion in Korea. She also worked at United States Africa Command for several years as the Deputy Chief of the Joint Reconnaissance Center then as a strategist in the Commander’s Action Group. Most recently, she commanded the 15^th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation) where she was responsible for force generating manned and unmanned ISR Intel Weapons Teams who deployed to multiple forward aviation detachments supporting USUEUCOM, USAFRICOM, USCENTCOM, and USNORTHCOM. She will complete SSC as a fellow at UT Austin next year.

Lt. Col. Schuetz is qualified in the UH-60A/L, the C-12, and the RC-12X aircraft. Her military education includes the Aviation Office Basic and Advanced courses, Helicopter and Airplane qualification courses, the Command and General Staff College, the Art of War Scholars Program, and the Joint and Combined Warfighting School. She has a B.A. degree in International Relations and English as well as a Master’s Degree in Military Arts and Sciences from the Command and General Staff College. Her additional skills include Joint Strategist and Art of War Scholar.

Lt. Col. Schuetz’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with 3 device, the Army Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Senior Aviator Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and several other awards.

Lt. Col. Schuetz has been married to her husband Max Schuetz of Ansbach, Germany for 17 years. They have two children Felix and Leonie and a dachshund Andouille.