Steven Snyder ’13 has been serving our country in the United States Air Force. Following his graduation from Gerstell Academy with the Class of 2013, he attended the United State Air Force Academy located just north of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The beginning of his career would be post-graduation of the Air Force Academy in 2017. He moved to Laughlin Air Force Base (AFB) in Del Rio, Texas, where he started his military aviation journey. Steven started Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) in Jan of 2018, and it was approximately a yearlong course.

During this time, he started learning and flying the T-6 (single engine, two seat, trainer aircraft) and then moved on to learn about and fly the T-38 (a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer.) In Jan of 2019, he graduated UPT and received his pilot wings with his assignment of becoming a T-38 instructor pilot. Steven was considered a FAIP (first assignment instructor pilot) and then would have a follow-up assignment in a new aircraft in roughly 3 years. As a FAIP he educated and trained students both as aviators in the T-38 and professionals as officers. The students that came to fly the T-38 were on a track to fly a fighter or bomber aircraft.

During Steven’s time in Del Rio, he had many incredible and memorable opportunities, a few to note: participating in a 9/11 flyover for Laughlin AFB and a Chicago Bears vs Packers flyover. Steven is currently training in Louisiana to learn about and fly the B-52, which will take roughly 8 months. Steven says, “My time in the Air Force has been centered around flying airplanes and I feel extremely blessed for the opportunities and experiences during my time in the service thus far.”

Steven currently lives with his wife Emily and their newborn baby daughter in Louisiana.

Once a Falcon always a Falcon!