Edwin K. Snyder was born in Detroit, Michigan on February 12, 1922.  Entering the U.S. Naval Academy in 1940, he graduated in June 1943.  Shortly thereafter, while serving on board the USS HAKE in 1944 and 1945, he participated in six combat submarine war patrols in the Southwestern Pacific area.  After the war he served in the Submarines DIABLO, IREX, and Catfish, returning to the USS IREX in 1954 as Commanding Officer.  Under his direction, the IREX won the coveted Battle Efficiency Pennant and was desgnated the outstanding submaring in the Atlantic Fleet in 1956.

After a year's postgraduate work at Stanford University in 1957, he was awarded a Master of Arts Degree in Personnel Administration.  In July 1959, the then Commander Snyder joined the staff of Commander Submarine Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet as the Force Personnel Officer and Executive Assistant for Leadsership.  He next took command of Submarine Division Eighty Two in New London, Connecticut.

After a year of study at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, he reported as Chief Staff Officer, Submarine Flotilla Seven in Yokosuda, Japan.  In 1965 Captain SNYDER assumed his third command, the Fleet Oiler USS ALLAGASH.

Retruning to the Pentagon, he next directed the Congressional Joint/Interservice and Special Matters Branch, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington.  In this capacity Captain SNYDER was the direct "back-up man" of the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations during Congressional Hearings.  In January 1968, Captain SNYDER reported aboard the USS NEWPORT NEWS as Commanding Officer.

Captain SNYDER's "View from the Bridge"
(Cruise book 1968 - 1969)

"What have I seen from the bridge of this magnificent ship over the past sixteen months?  First, foremost, and indelibly recorded in my mind is the performance of the mangificent men.  Men with a spirit unmatched; men with an irrsesistible enthusiasm; men who are unafraid and untiring in their efforts to do the task at hand no matter how dangerous or menial.   And finally men who are humble and polite yet noble and proud.  Proud of the country, their ship, hteir shipmates and yes, proud of me.  To have served with these men has been the greatest privilege of my life..."