| Former Commanding Officer |
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| Former Commanding Officer |
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| BIOGRAPHY
: Commander Snedeker was born and raised in Valley Stream, New York. He attended the University of Florida in Gainsville and received a Bachelors of Science in Aerospace Engineering. He was commissioned through the NROTC Scholarship Program in June 1979, reported to Pensacola, Florida for flight training, and was designated a Naval Flight Officer in May 1980. After completing replacement training in the A-6E INTRUDER, Commander Snedeker reported to Attack Squadron SIXTY-FIVE. From 1981-1984 he completed a North Atlantic and two Mediterranean deployments aboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) including extended operations off of Libya and Lebanon. He next reported to Attack Squadron FORTY-TWO for instructor duty in the A-6E INTRUDER Fleet Replacement Squadron. In December of 1984 Commander Snedeker was selected for the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland1 and graduated in December 1985 with Class 88. He then reported to Strike Aircraft Test Directorate where he served as the Project Officer on Project REALNIGHT, a night attack testbed. Additionally, Commander Snedeker served as one of the initial instructors that introduced Night Vision Goggles (NVG's) to the A-6E fleet in 1986. He returned to the fleet in May 1988. reporting to Attack Squadron THIRTY FIVE where he served as the Conventional Weapons, Training, and Operations Officers. During this tour, he made North Atlantic and Mediterranean deployments aboard USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71), and a Red Sea deployment aboard the USS SARATOGA (CV 60) from August 1990 to' April 1991 during Operations Desert Shield/Desert. Storm. Commander Snedeker served as an Airwing Strike Leader during combat missions into Iraq and the Kuwait Theater of Operations (KTO). In January of 1992 he reported to the Joint AFX Program Office in Crystal City, Virginia. During this tour he screened for command of an operational F-14 squadron. In January 1994 he reported to Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED ONE for F-14 transition training. He reported to Fighter Squadron FOURTEEN in April 1995 as the Executive Officer. Commander Snedeker has accumulated over 3100 flight hours, 420 NVG hours and 750 carrier landings while flying over 22 types of aircraft. His awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross (with Combat "V"), Air Medals (individual and strike/flight), Navy Commendation Medals (with Combat "V"), Air Force Commendation Medal and several other unit and campaign awards. Commander Snedeker passed on the Command of the Tophatters to CDR Luke R. Parent in July 1997 [ CO's e-mail ] [ top of page ] VF-14
"The Oldest and Boldest" |
