Joseph Edward Schmitz is an American lawyer and a former Inspector General of the United States Department of Defense, and a prominent conservative activist known for his extensive work on national security and counterterrorism issues. Born in 1956, Schmitz has had a multifaceted career spanning government, military, and the private sector, positioning him within influential networks related to defense and conservative politics. He served as the Pentagon's Inspector General from September 2002 to September 2005. Following his resignation, he transitioned to the private sector, notably serving as an executive, including Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, for Blackwater Worldwide from 2006 to 2007. His expertise was later sought by the Trump campaign, where he acted as a foreign policy advisor during the 2016 presidential election. His tenure as Inspector General was marked by controversy, including allegations of obstructing investigations, though he was cleared of wrongdoing by a review board in 2006.