Richard "Skeet" Schuler
State Fire Marshall's Office
Mr. Schuler was born in Miami, Florida where he completed his formal education. He holds an AA Degree and an AS Degree from Miami-Dade Community College. There, he was a founding member of Omega Chi social fraternity. He holds a BS Degree from Florida International University and attended graduate courses at Nova Southeastern University.
In 1967, Mr. Schuler enlisted in the U.S. Army. He completed basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He then completed helicopter flight training at Fort Wolters, Texas and Fort Rucker, Alabama, where he was commissioned as a Warrant Officer and an Army Aviator. He was a combat aviator in the Republic of Viet Nam flying the HueyCobra gun ship from 10 June 1968 through 10 June 1969 with the 2/17 Air Cav, 101st Airborn Division. He completed his military career in 1971, receiving an Honorable Discharge as an Infantry Captain.
In 1972, Mr. Schuler began his law enforcement career with the Miami Beach Police Department. He moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1975 and was a Deputy Sheriff with the El Paso County Sheriff's Department. He returned to Florida in 1977 to become a Campus Police Officer at Florida State University. Then, he moved back to Miami to become an Investigator with the Florida Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering. His final step in law enforcement was to become a Detective with the State Fire Marshal's Bureau of Fire/Arson and Explosion Investigations. Mr. Schuler will retire from the Division in 2008 as a Law Enforcement Supervisor.
During his 25+ year law enforcement career with the Fire Marshals, Mr. Schuler has conducted over 1850 fire/explosion investigations. He has been certified as an expert witness in both Federal and State Courts in both civil and criminal cases. He has been an active member and officer in several law enforcement and fire organizations.
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