Joseph
Schmitt, PhD
About Me
(Last comprehensive update made in ~2021. Updating is in progress as of 9/20/2026.)
I’m an Operations Research Analyst and former astronomer based in Washington, DC. I currently work at the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, where I conduct independent analysis to evaluate major programs and projects. Earlier in my career, I worked at Headquarters Air Force as a Presidential Management Fellow and completed a detail to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, where I worked with the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. I hold a PhD in Astronomy from Yale University, with a dissertation on discovering hidden planets, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Iowa.
I’m also running to serve as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for ANC 1A03 in Columbia Heights!
Selected Highlights
NNSA: I independently review and assess the Stockpile Research, Technology, and Engineering portfolio, including fusion, particle accelerators, and artificial intelligence. I analyze its plans and funding and provide an independent view of priorities and tradeoffs.
Air Force: I analyzed a proposal to buy roughly 300 light-attack aircraft, a decision that would have cost about $20 billion over their lifetime. My analysis helped inform the decision not to proceed with the purchase.
Congress: I was the lead staffer for the House Science Committee’s Legacy of Apollo hearing.
Astronomy: I was one of the lead astronomers for the Planet Hunters citizen science project and discovered two exoplanets, PH3 c and Kepler-150 f.
Interests
Outside of work, I spend most of my time watching movies, TV, or football (especially college football) or exercising/working out. I really enjoy playing badminton and tennis (and really do not enjoy lifting weights or running, but I do them anyway), sometimes playing badminton up to 4x a week.
I like collecting data and doing mini projects. I have a spreadsheet of every movie I’ve ever watched in my entire life, all rated and categorized, 3,791 and counting. The only perfect 10.0's are The Lord of the Rings, The Mummy (1999), and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. My other spreadsheets cover workouts, TV shows, NFL stats, finances, and more.
I love following elections both here in America and around the world, especially polling and U.S. election reform. I also follow politics and international affairs more broadly. In fact, one of my spreadsheets tracks how often certain members of Congress and Congressional candidates vote in favor of or against the city of DC.
Science is still a major interest outside of work, especially astronomy and exoplanets. I still follow new discoveries and space missions closely, even though I no longer work as a professional astronomer. I also think it’s important to defend the science, technologies, and medicines that have come under political attack, including vaccines (literally one of the greatest inventions in human history), climate science, nuclear power, and genetically engineered foods.
