MEET THE TEAMS

The Teams

Melissa Schmalhorst - Retired USAF Founder/President of STMSAR

Melissa Schmalhorst was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, into a military family. She grew up training horses and later attended Missouri State University, where she competed on the Equestrian Team while majoring in Animal Science. In July 2008, she began her military career by joining the United States Air Force as a member of Security Forces. Over her ten years of service, Melissa held multiple specialized roles, including Armorer, Designated Marksman, and Emergency Service Team (EST) Member at Incirlik AB, Turkey; Fire Team Leader and Heavy Weapons Gunner at Malmstrom AFB, Montana; and Patrol/Explosive and Patrol/Narcotic Canine Handler at Fairchild AFB, Washington, where she also served as Lead Trainer for Military Working Dog teams. She deployed multiple times to the Middle East in support of Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom and worked alongside the U.S. Secret Service with her explosive detection dogs, Glen N733 and Bety R204. While serving as a trainer, she also handled narcotics and patrol dog Bonno K473. In 2015, Melissa was assigned to the 341st Training Squadron at Lackland AFB, where she trained explosive, narcotic, and controlled aggression dogs for all branches of the military. After being retired from the Air Force in 2018, she continued applying her expertise in canine handling and training. She later served as a contract explosive dog handler for Dogs for Defense Inc. and currently works as a handler and trainer with the Israel Dog Unit, where she supported Israel during Operation Swords of Iron with her cadaver dogs in the Gaza Envelope.

Certifications – Military Working Dog Handler, MWD Trainer/Kennel Master, NASAR Crime Scene Preservation, S-V80 Survival, Evasion Resistance and Escape, S-V90 Water Survival Training, S-V84-AF Underwater Egress w/Helicopter, MWD Tier III Operations, NASAR SARTECH III Wilderness Search Specialist, IPWDA Certified Human Remains K9 Handler, NASAR Mounted SAR Tech III, FEMA IS-100, IS-700, FEMA Hazardous Material IS-5, American Working Dog VLK Cadaver Dog Certification.

John Jones - BlackStar Training Group Instructor Vice President of STMSAR

John Jones is a native Texan from El Paso with more than 24 years of dedicated service as a First Responder. His career has spanned multiple disciplines — from Firefighter and Law Enforcement Officer to Special Response Team member — and for the past 17 years, he has served as a Flight Paramedic and Clinical Educator across the nation. A devoted husband and father, John is deeply committed to his family, his community, and the State of Texas. He has proudly served on the Governor’s EMS & Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) Air Medical Committee and has provided expertise to numerous government agencies, including the DEA, ATF, CBP, DHS, and various state and local law enforcement and first responder organizations. In addition to his public service, John is the owner of BlackStar Training Group, a San Antonio–based company offering Defensive Firearms and Tactical Medical Training. He is also developing a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Guardian Angel Defense of Texas, which provides free Active Shooter Education programs to schools and churches throughout the state. John currently holds a Texas Level 4 Personal Protection Officer Security License through TX DPS TOPS and is a certified TX DPS LTC and School Safety Instructor. In 2021, he began collaborating with Melissa Schmalhorst to train his German Shepherd/Malinois K9, Gunner, in Patrol and Firearms Detection. After witnessing Melissa’s dedication and the mission of STMSAR, John was inspired to join the team, contributing his and Gunner’s specialized skills to help serve and protect others.

Kate Sommer - Treasurer of STMSAR

Kate was born and raised in Northern Illinois, where her life with horses began at an early age. Surrounded by equines, she dedicated her youth to starting young horses and ponies before transitioning her focus to retraining off the track racehorses for new careers. She also spent many years competing on the hunter/jumper circuit throughout the Midwest. After high school, Kate attended The University of Arizona in Tucson, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She later pursued her Doctorate in Pharmacy at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, Illinois. Much of her professional career has been rooted in Level I Trauma Centers, with a focus on critical care medicine. In 2019, Kate relocated to San Antonio, Texas, with her husband, a military veteran. Through the veteran community, she was introduced to the world of working dogs and connected with Melissa Schmalhorst. In late 2020, Kate welcomed her first working dog and began training under Melissa’s mentorship. Since then, she has dedicated her time outside the hospital to developing her skills as a K9 handler—combining her background in science, discipline, and compassion with her growing passion for working dogs.

Certifications – GSAR Wilderness Search Specialist, FEMA IS-100, IS-700, FEMA Hazardous Material IS-5, Crime Scene Preservation, First Aid/CPR, American Working Dog VLK Cadaver Dog Certification.

Canine & Equine Partners

Oakley the Kelpie (RETIRED)
Certified Human Remains Detection
Oakley is trained in human remains detection, both on foot patrol and while working alongside an STMSAR mount. She proudly served in Israel during Operation Swords of Iron and currently supports recovery missions with Brooks County Sheriff’s Office and Remote Wildlands Search and Rescue, demonstrating exceptional skill, focus, and dedication in every deployment.
Handler: Melissa Schmalhorst

Molly the German Shorthair Pointer (RETIRED)
Certified Cadaver Detection
Handler: Kate Sommer

Gunner the Malinois/GSD
Certified Firearms Detection
Handler: John Jones

Check out BLM Mustangs page to meet our Equine Partners!

Check out one of our Hero Dog's in Israel!
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384017?fbclid=IwAR0g7ra97IOmR2daMAKJoucRZL2uOIjQMc8N9RGgRZNEtyG01sNe6GY6uY0
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/304410
Eden (Malinois) & Whiskey (Labrador) was trained by Melissa Schmalhorst and donated to the IDU.
Both have served during Operation Swords of Iron with the IDU/IDF.