The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas Lottery Veteran Recognition: David V. Schulz
08.30.2024 | Longhorn Sports Properties / Learfield
The retired Army Lieutenant Colonel will be honored when Texas Football hosts Colorado State on Aug. 31.
With determination and an industrious spirit, David V. Schulz fulfilled the call of duty in multiple roles during a U.S. Army career that spanned nearly three decades. The retired Lieutenant Colonel served as an enlisted soldier, combat officer and U.S. diplomat. In his final Army assignment, Schulz was among the first leaders at the Austin, Texas-based Army Futures Command, which was established in 2018 to ensure ongoing Army readiness through innovation and modernization.
During his service in Austin, Schulz also earned his executive MBA from the University of Texas. His early college experience was marked by attending multiple community colleges to acquire the credits necessary to transfer to a four-year university, while serving as an enlisted military police officer. This experience helped Schulz "cut his teeth" and hone the work ethic and skills that propelled him to a nontraditional Army career.
He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA, commissioned through the ROTC program and returned to the Army as an officer.
"I took what was probably the hardest job in the Army at that time, 2003, with two ground wars – an infantry lieutenant," Schulz said.
After he graduated from Airborne and Ranger school, Schulz's first combat assignment was into Afghanistan as a rifle platoon leader. He led soldiers during multiple combat deployments throughout Afghanistan and Iraq before transitioning into workforce development, foreign affairs and diplomacy. First, he served as a U.S. Diplomat at U.S. embassies in San Salvador and Mexico City, and later as a White House Fellow.
Schulz worked relentlessly. Although different from battlefield deployments, the intensity, purpose and challenge are ever-present in functional branches. Schulz was "tied to email," advising four-star leaders in significant matters of national security. He was also processing what he had witnessed from the eagle-eye vantage point that comes with decades of global military service.
"I could see the haves and the have-nots," said Schulz, who retired from the Army in April 2023.
Schulz is determined to use his post-military years to make opportunities for different demographics. He co-founded ATX Base Camp, a non-profit organization sheltering and serving Austin-area veterans experiencing homelessness. Schulz manages a team of partners for Mexilatin Solutions, a business focused on near-shoring firms from China to central America and Mexico.
Importantly, Schulz is dedicated to building workforces and filling labor roles from typically underserved communities.
"It is really about looking in my rear-view mirror to help others find a step up and into a better social class," Schulz said.
During his time as a White House Fellow, Schulz interacted with the late Colin Powell, who encouraged Schulz to take time off when he transitioned from military service to civilian, corporate life. For Schulz, who describes himself as "military-minded, very set on metrics and progress," the prospect of a year-long vacation did not seem too appealing until his wife's consistent encouragement took the weight of expectation off his shoulders.
"It was liberating," Schulz said of the decompression period. He read 120 books, did a lot of "soul searching," and reinvigorated his self-made structure with pre-dawn workouts, helping with breakfast, getting his two daughters off to school and then focusing his energy on the day's tasks and challenges.
"I think it comes down to how you make the best use of all those hours in the day," Schulz said.
Schulz, his wife and two daughters currently reside in Colorado Springs, Colo.
"I am honored to be able to represent other veterans and their families," Schulz said of the gameday recognition.
Thanks to the Texas Lottery, great things are happening all across Texas. The Texas Lottery now consistently contributes more than $1.9 billion of lottery revenue each year to good causes like public education and veterans' assistance programs. Beginning with the first veterans' dedicated scratch ticket game in 2009, the Texas Lottery has now contributed over $246 million to the Fund for Veterans' Assistance.
Since 1992, the Texas Lottery has generated more than $39 billion in revenue for the state of Texas. Through strict adherence to their vision, mission and core values, the Texas Lottery is dedicated to ensuring that this support continues.