HARRISBURG, Pa. –
Major General Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, announced his retirement Sept. 23 after nearly four decades of service with the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Schindler has served as the 54th adjutant general of Pennsylvania since December 2020. Shapiro nominated him to continue to serve as the adjutant general, and Schindler was confirmed by the Senate of Pennsylvania on April 26, 2023.
“Major General Mark Schindler has spent his career serving and protecting our Commonwealth and our nation,” said Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. “He has led the Pennsylvania National Guard and Department of Military and Veteran Affairs with extraordinary honor and integrity. On behalf of a grateful Commonwealth, I want to thank General Schindler for his service, and I wish him and his family all the best during a well-deserved retirement.”
As the head of the Pennsylvania National Guard and DMVA, Schindler oversees a combined state and federal budget of over $966 million at Fort Indiantown Gap. He is responsible for the command and control of over 18,000 Army and Air National Guard members (the third largest National Guard in the nation); a complement of 2,500 commonwealth employees; care of residential cadets at the Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy; and six state-owned veterans homes and programs for Pennsylvania’s more than 700,000 veterans.
"It has been a tremendous honor to serve as Pennsylvania's Adjutant General,” said Schindler. “I am grateful to Governor Shapiro and his administration for their unwavering support of the Pennsylvania National Guard and Pennsylvania's more than 700,000 veterans. I am honored to have served shoulder-to-shoulder with soldiers and airmen who will continue to be Always Ready, Always There, Always on Mission, serving the people of Pennsylvania and our nation.”
Schindler will be retiring on Oct. 1, 2024, and Shapiro plans to nominate a new adjutant general after that effective date.
Under Schindler’s leadership, DMVA has made great strides in serving Pennsylvania servicemembers, veterans and their families – from making improvements to veterans homes to investing in workforce training programs for veterans and military families. In May 2023, DMVA broke ground on a new $97 million, 200-bed long-term care building for veterans in need of skilled nursing and memory care at the Hollidaysburg Veterans’ Home campus in Duncansville, Blair County.
Schindler was also instrumental in securing $1.4 million for a new walk-in outreach center for veterans in the 2024-25 state budget. The center will create a one-stop shop outside of the secure perimeter of Fort Indiantown Gap to make it easier for Pennsylvanians who have served our nation to receive the benefits and help they have earned.
And last year, thanks to the work of Schindler and his team, DMVA helped to secure nearly a billion dollars in total claims to Pennsylvania veterans for benefits they earned during their service – an 18% increase from the previous year.
Prior to his appointment as adjutant general, Schindler served as assistant adjutant general, Pennslyvania Army National Guard; chief of staff, PA National Guard; and served in a variety of command and staff positions within the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Schindler deployed as commander of the 55th Military Engagement Team in Jordan during combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2012-2013.
Schindler was born in Buffalo, New York. He received a two-year ROTC scholarship from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and was commissioned in 1987, earning a bachelor’s degree in communications. He attended Clarion University of Pennsylvania earning a master’s degree in communications in 1989, and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2011.
His military education includes: Signal Corps Officer Basic and Advanced Course; U.S. Army War College; Harvard University – Leadership in Homeland Security Course; Dual-Status Commander Course; and the Senior Leadership Course, Baltic Defense College.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (2nd Award); Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award); Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award); Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award); Air Force Achievement Medal; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (3rd Award); National Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal (3rd Award); Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M-Device; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (5th Award).
Schindler and his wife, Colette, have two adult children, David and Beth Rose.