Schmid honored by U.S. Navy for her time in Congress Schmid As Betsy Schmid settles into her new office at the Aerospace Industries Association, she'll have a very tangible reminder of her 12 years as a Senate staffer. U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus presented Schmid with the Navy's Distinguished Public Service Award in March, one week after she started at AIA as vice president for national security and acquisition policy. Other recipients have included members of Congress and a Pulitzer Prize winner. It's "humbling," Schmid said. But hardly undeserved. Schmid's Senate career was devoted to the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, the last four years as staff director.… Read More