Captain van der Schroeff received his commission through Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Trinity College in Hartford, CT in 1964. Upon commissioning he was assigned to the Naval War College for a brief period as Senior Foreign Officer Liaison.

Subsequent at-sea assignments followed as Communications Officer and Damage control Assistant in USS BERKELEY DDG15 Weapons Officer in USS LEONARD F. MASON (DD852). Combat Information Officer in the commissioning crew of USS TARAWA (LHA1), Executive Officer of USS WADDELL (DDG24) and Commanding Officer of USS HENRY B WILSON (DDG7). Following that command, he was the Operations Officer for Commander, Middle East force from October 1983 to May 1985.  He subsequently commanded USS ENGLAND (CG22) from August 1988 to September 1990.

Captain van der Schroeff earned a Master of Science degree in chemistry in the ordnance Engineering Curriculum at the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, CA and graduated from the Naval War college in 1986.

He has been awarded personal decorations including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon.

He assumed command of the USS WISCONSIN on 27 April 1991 to 30 September 1991 and was WISCONSIN'S last commander.