Chief Warrant Officer Schneider enlisted in the Navy in 1993 and reported to Boot Camp at Great Lakes, IL before attending Pensacola, FL and FT Devens, MA CTR A and C Schools. He then reported to Naval Security Group Activity (NSGA), Kunia, HI as a Direct Support Operator from 1994-1997. He conducted numerous deployments on board USS SHILOH (CG-67), M/V CORY CHOUEST, USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) and three subsurface combatants earning his Subsurface Warfare Pin.

He then reported to NSGA Rota Spain where he quickly qualified as a watch team supervisor and conducted two 6th Fleet subsurface deployments in support of Operation NOBLE ANVIL in 1998. In 1999, he transferred to Naval Information Warfare Activity in Suitland, MD where he was promoted to PO1. During this tour, he performed as division Leading Petty Officer and team lead for the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) from 1999-2001.

PO1 Schneider then reported to Special Projects, FT Meade, MD in 2001 where he deployed as afloat Officer-in-Charge of special SECDEF missions in three separate AORs from 2001-2007 and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in 2003.

In 2007, Chief Schneider was selected for Chief Warrant Officer prior to reporting to Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC), GA where he was assigned as a 5th Fleet Collection Manager and Signals Analysis Lab Division Officer. During this tour, CWO2 Schneider was hand-selected to augment Ballistic Missile Defense ship USS RAMAGE (DDG-61) for a Search and Rescue operation of Ethiopian Airlines FLT 409 in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

He was then promoted to CWO3 in October 2010 and earned his Information Dominance Warfare Officer Pin. Upon completion of his assignment at NIOC, GA, he reported to USS HUE CITY (CG-66) homeported in Mayport, FL where he served as the ship’s Signals Warfare Officer from 2011-2013. During this tour, he completed two historic back-to-back 6-month deployments while attached to Carrier Strike Group 8 and earned his Surface Warfare Officer pin. Warrant Officer Schneider then reported to NCR CENTCOM, Tampa, FL and was promoted to CWO4 in 2014.

He served as the embedded NSA liaison to CENTCOM’s J2-SIGINT Requirements Division supporting combat operations throughout the CENTCOM AOR from 2013-2016. In 2016, CWO4 Schneider reported to IWTC Corry Station and assumed the duties as the Command Legal Officer, N9 Department Head and instructor for the CWOBC, ACM and CRC courses. CWO4 Schneider was selected for CWO5 from the FY-20 promotion board.

CWO5 Schneider served his last tour as the Fleet Support Team Lead at Fleet Cyber Command/Commander 10th Fleet from 2020 to 2023 and plans to stay near his hometown in Maryland.

CWO5 Schneider is originally from Severn, MD and graduated with a master’s degree in Intelligence Studies with Honors from American Military University in 2015. His personal awards include the CAPT Joseph Rochefort Leadership Award, Joint Meritorious Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. He is married to Lorah Feliciano Schneider and has one son, Christopher Schneider who was born at Bethesda Naval Hospital, MD in 2004.

Kevin with his father, Ronald Schneider on HUE CITY (CG 66)

Keeping heritage alive:  CWO5 Schneider’s father, CTRCS Ronald Schneider served from 1957 to 1977.

CTRCS Ronald Schneider, originally from Ephrata Pennsylvania, enlisted in the U.S. Navy on January 2, 1957 as electronics field Seaman Recruit and received his basic training in Bainbridge, Maryland.  Following boot camp, Seaman Recruit Schneider transferred to the Naval Communications Training Center, Imperial Beach, California where he attended the basic manual Morse operator’s course.

Because there was a shortage of Russian linguists at the time, CTRSA Schneider volunteered to attend Russian Language training at the Russian Language Office of Naval Intelligence in Anacostia, Washington D.C.  Following his manual Morse and Language training, CTR3 Schneider transferred to his first shore duty station in Karamürsel, Turkey in November 1958.

While serving 18 months in Turkey, CTR3 Schneider advanced to CTR2 and then transferred to Kami Seya, Japan in May 1960 where he was assigned to Fleet Air Reconnaissance One (VQ-1).  After 30 months as a direction support operator, CTR2 Schneider transferred to Sidi Yahia, Morocco in November, 1962.  While stationed in Morocco, CTR2 Schneider was advanced to CTR1.

In November, 1967 CTR1 Schneider transferred to Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico.  While there CTR1 Schneider advanced to Chief Petty Officer.  After five years serving in Puerto Rico, Chief Schneider transferred to Misawa, Japan. CTRC Schneider was officially designated a NSGA Misawa Plank-Owner under the command of CAPT G. Patrick March, former CNSG (1974-1978).  While serving in Misawa, Chief Schneider was advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer.

After serving in Misawa, Senior Chief Schneider transferred to Fort George G. Meade, Maryland at the National Security Agency. While stationed at the “Fort,” Senior Chief Schneider was selected to Master Chief Petty Officer, but he declined the promotion for family considerations and retired on January 3, 1977.

Following Senior Chief Schneider’s retirement, he continued to serve the Navy as a Liaison Officer for the Office of Naval Intelligence at Fort George G, Meade Maryland.  After 38 years of combined active duty and civilian naval service, Mr. Ronald E Schneider retired on January 31, 1995.

In addition to his assignment in VQ-1, Senior Chief Schneider served as a surface and subsurface direct support operator and supervisor on the following platforms: USS Diodon (SS 349), USS Wahoo (SS 565), USS Newport News (CA 48), USS Tringa (ASR 16), USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42), USS Saratoga (CVA 60) and USS America (CV 66).

The story doesn’t end here…

Midshipman Christopher Schneider is currently in his freshman year at NROTC, Norwich University on a 4-year scholarship.  During his high school years, Christopher was involved in the Army JROTC, Naval Sea Cadets as well as the Air Force Civil Air Patrol programs.  Christopher’s major is in Engineering and wishes to go into aviation or cryptology.  God willing, he will commission in 2026 and carry on the Schneider family tradition.

A special thank you to all who have mentored me over the years and enabled such a fulfilling naval career.  The Chief’s mess writ large.  My family, my wife Lorah and my son who stood behind me during the long deployments.  CAPT Brad Melichar, David Schultz (CWO3, Ret), Steve Martin (my lifetime mentor, friend and Ret CWO3), CDR Chad Smith, CDR Hickman (both who believed in me), CAPT Tom Botulinski (another lifetime mentor and who flew with my father in VQ-1), CWO3 Kevin Youngblood (another lifetime mentor and great friend), Mario Vulcano (Ret CWO3, a true professional who keeps our heritage alive and friend) and finally CWO4 Skip Foote (another lifetime mentor and friend).  So many more to mention but I suspect you know who you are.  Thank you all!!   AR E E

Congratulations on a fantastic career Shipmate!

Sincerely,
Station HYPO