James Schmidt was born on 18 December 1959, in the New Forest area. He joined the Royal Navy as a Midshipman at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in 1978. In 1980, he was studying at the Royal Naval Engineering College, Manadon and was promoted to Sub Lieutenant (E) on 1 September 1980. In 1982, he was serving in the frigate HMS PENELOPE and, in 1983, in the destroyer HMS ANTRIM, having been promoted to Lieutenant (E) on 1 March 1983.

He completed the Naval Nuclear Reactor Course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich in 1984 and 1985. He was then appointed to HMS TURBULENT as the Assistant Marine Engineering Officer from 1986 to 1988. James Schmidt next served in the Ministry of Defence in Bath followed by NRTE Dounreay and Royal Naval College, Greenwich from 1989 to 1991. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander (E) (MESM) on 1 March 1991, before serving in HMS TORBAY as the Deputy Marine Engineering Officer in 1992 and 1993. After returning to the Royal Naval College, Greenwich for the Department of Nuclear Science & Technology in 1994, he then joined HMS SOVEREIGN from 1995 to 1997.

Moving ashore, James Schmidt served in the Naval Technical Department at HMS NEPTUNE for two years and then on the Staff of the Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, and Northern Ireland (FOSNNI) in 2000 & 2001. A two-year appointment to the staff of the Naval Base Commander, Clyde as Director of Safety Assurance followed from 2000 to 2002, transferring to the Clyde Warship Support Agency in 2003. James Schmidt of HMS NEPTUNE is reported to have died on Friday 25 February 2005, the circumstances of his death are not yet established.