Joseph Edward Schmitz (born August 28, 1956) is an American lawyer, former inspector general of the United States Department of Defense and a former executive with Blackwater Worldwide.

Although allegations questioning his stewardship of the inspector general's office surfaced nine months after his resignation, a high-level review board, the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency, cleared him of wrongdoing in 2006.

He holds a Bachelor of Science (1978) from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he was on the wrestling team, and a Juris Doctor (1986) from Stanford University.

"[11] In 2005, Schmitz canceled a planned $200,000 trip to Germany "to attend a ceremony at a Von Steuben statue," after Grassley questioned the expenditure.

[12] CNN reported that Schmitz sent a message to Representative Jim Jordan describing the legal basis for Vice President Mike Pence to block certification of the 2020 election.