A former Captain in the U.S. Navy, David Schnell now serves as vice president of operations for the electronic tolling collection division of Xerox’s Americas Commercial and State Government Transportation Group. Still true to his military roots, Captain David Schnell maintains membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 15005.As a result of a strong push from the VFW and other service-based advocacy groups, the Defense Health Agency announced in January 2018 that the costs for TRICARE will be going down this year. For active duty service personnel who were in the military prior to January 1, 2018, primary care copays have been cut to $21, down from $27, and retired personnel will now pay $28 for primary visits instead for $35. Other medical services have also seen their costs reduced under the new plan. Patients who start their military service after January 1, 2018, will be subject to a fee schedule outlined in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Before assuming his current role as general manager of Los Angeles express lanes for the Americas Commercial & State Transportation Group, Captain David Schnell served 27 years with the United States Navy. Among his accomplishments as an executive and commanding officer on several navy ships, Captain David Schnell received a Meritorious Service Medal with three stars.The Meritorious Service Medal was born at the Tri-Department Awards Conference of 1968, when military leaders discussed the need for a new meritorious award to acknowledge noncombat achievement or service that is roughly equivalent to the combat service that merits a Bronze Star Medal. President Lyndon B. Johnson officially recognized the Meritorious Service Medal in 1969. Twelve years later, president Ronald Reagan amended the Meritorious Service Medal order to extend this honor to armed forces members of friendly foreign nations in addition to United States service personnel.Cast in bronze, the Meritorious Service Medal features a depiction of an eagle with its wings raised. The eagle rests upon two upwardly curving laurel branches and stands in front of multiple concentric stars. The Medal is attached to the uniform with a ribbon of crimson and white stripes.
