Candidate for
State Senator; District 35; Republican Party

Colonel Snyder joined the Marines immediately upon graduation from the University of North Carolina in January of 1966. He attended Officer Candidate School at Quantico, VA and was commissioned a 2dLt in May, 1966. Off to flight school in Pensacola, FL, he received the coveted gold wings of a Naval Aviator in July, 1967 and was then promoted to 1stLt.

His next Duty station was the Marine Corps Air Facility in New River, NC where he joined Marine Medium Helicopter 161 which was in workup to go to Vietnam with brand new CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters. The squadron deployed in March 1968 by flying cross country and boarding the U.S.S. Princeton in Long Beach, CA.

By mid-April the squadron was engaged in combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of South Vietnam along the DMZ stretching from the coast inland to Laos. Known as one of the so-called "iron-men" of HMM-161, then Captain Snyder volunteered to stay in the cockpit and flew continuous combat missions until being sent home in 1969 having completed over 1200 combat missions and surviving two such mission where he was shot down.

Returning to the states, Captain Snyder became an instructor pilot teaching replacement pilots how to survive in combat. During that time, he attended numerous schools, new duty assignments and greater responsibilities typical of a professional military officer.

Colonel Snyder was promoted to his present rank in April, 1988 in Washington D.C. following a tour at the Pentagon as a war planner on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. He completed his active duty career in 1990 as the Inspector General of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at 29 Palms, CA and the 7th Marine Expeditionary Brigade which deployed in August 1990 for Operation Desert Storm in southwest Asia as the lead element of the U.S. Military's power projection into that part of the world.

Colonel Snyder's awards and decorations include: the National Defense Service Medal; the Combat Action Ribbon; the Navy Commendation Medal; the Air Medal with combat "V" and Bronze "60" for the second through sixtieth awards; the Meritorious Service Medal; the Distinguished Flying Cross with combat "V"; the Legion of Merit; plus numerous campaign, service and unit awards. Upon his retirement, the Congress of the United States paid special "Tribute" to Col. Snyder as a "Distinguished American" for service to his country in time of war and peace.

Col. Snyder was elected to the Dana Point City Council in 2000 and currently serves as Mayor. A single parent, he resides at home in Capistrano Beach, CA with his two teenage children, Josie and Wesley.