Steven Erich Schuler, Lt. Col. USA (Ret)

On the morning of September 6, 2015, Steve Schuler, 54, of Purcellville, Va., father of Stephanie L. Schuler, and husband of Karen L. Schuler passed away. Steve was born on April 26, 1961, in Marquette, Michigan, to the late Erich E. Schuler, Lt. Col., USAF (RET), and Gladys A. Schuler of Fairfax, Va. In addition to his daughter, mother and wife, Steve is survived by his sister, Jan Schuler-Rivas of Virginia Beach, Va.

Steve graduated from W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, Va., in 1979, and West Virginia University in 1983 with a BA in Political Science.

He enlisted in the Infantry in 1983 and attended Infantry Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He graduated from Officer Candidate School and was commissioned in Military Intelligence in 1985.

Steve's military education included: Military Intelligence Officer Basic and Advance Courses, Combined Arms and Services Staff School (CAS3), Post Graduate Intelligence Program, Command and General Staff College, Joint Space Fundamentals and Advanced Applications Courses, Army's Space Operations Officer Qualification Course, Airborne, Air Assault, and Jumpmaster Courses. His civilian education included Master's degrees in Strategic Intelligence from the Defense Intelligence Agency and Public Administration from Troy State University.

Steve's assignments included: Executive Officer, Headquarters Company, United States Army Field Station Sinop, Turkey; Executive Officer and Intelligence Analyst, Joint Liaison Detachment, Allied Land Forces Southeastern Europe, Izmir, Turkey; Signals Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Chief, 311th Military Intelligence Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Brigade Intelligence Officer (S-2), Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division; Commander, Headquarters Company, Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division; Combined Intelligence Watch Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Space Command, Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center, Colorado Springs, CO; G-2 Plans Officer, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, NC: Battalion S-3, 319th Military Intelligence Battalion (Operations) (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC; Current Operations and Plans Branch Chief, Intelligence Directorate (J2), Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), Fort Bragg, NC; Mission Director, United States Strategic Command, Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Steve's awards and decorations included: the Bronze Star Medal (2), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2), the Meritorious Service Medal (2), the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (2), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Star, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NATO Medal (Bosnia), the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon (2), the Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti Liberation of Kuwait Medals, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (4), the Canadian Parachutist Badge, the Air Force Space Operations Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Senior Parachutist Badge.

The family will receive friends between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, at Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Rd., NE, Leesburg, VA 20176. Steve's life will be celebrated during a memorial service on Sunday, September 13, at 2 p.m. at Colonial Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Capital Caring, 2900 Telestar Ct., Falls Church, VA, 22042. Please designate donations to the Adler Center in memory of Steve Schuler. Steve was receiving care at the Adler Center for Caring in Aldie, Virginia, at the time of his passing.

Interment at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

"I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property. I'm on sacred ground, and I'm in the best of company. I can rest in peace, I'm one of the chosen ones. I made it to Arlington. Dust to dust. Don't cry for me. I made it to Arlington."