Capt. Michael D. Snowden

Commanding Officer, USS San Antonio (LPD 17)

02 February 2023

Captain Dave Snowden is from Tavernier, FL and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace engineering.  He earned a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from National Defense University’s Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy in 2016.

His sea duty assignments include junior officer tours with the ‘Scouts’ of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 24, Jacksonville, Florida and the ‘Mighty Shrikes’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 94, NAS Lemoore, CA; department head with the ‘Kestrels’ of VFA-137, Lemoore, CA; and commander of VFA-25 ‘Fist of the Fleet’, Lemoore, CA.  He completed multiple deployments aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65), USS Nimitz (CVN 68), and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), and flew combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan.  Captain Snowden’s most recent sea duty assignment was executive officer of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Norfolk, VA.

Snowden’s shore duty assignments include instructor pilot and department head at the ‘Rough Raiders’ of VFA-25, Lemoore, CA; Strike Fighter and Carrier Air Wing Placement Officer at Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee; and as executive officer with the VFA-122 ‘Flying Eagles’ in Lemoore, California.  His most recent shore duty assignment was Division Chief, Joint Staff J-7.

CAPT Snowden has flown over 3,100 hours and 650 arrested landings.  His military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Strike / Flight Air Medal (2 Awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5 Awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various personal, unit, and service awards.