Rick Snyder is the embodiment of good leadership.
He is a retired Navy vice admiral and Naval Inspector General with a long and remarkable career that demonstrates his devotion to doing tangible good in the world – by helping others succeed,
holding wrongdoers accountable, and creating safer workplaces for all.
In 1983, Rick entered the Navy through the ROTC program at Tulane University, graduating with a B.S. in Management (with honors); later earning an M.S. in Operations Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School, stating that he “wanted to better understand the use of data and modeling/simulation to solve hard problems”.
Rick earned his Wings of Gold as a helicopter pilot in ’84 and was twice deployed: once with the USS NEW JERSEY Battlegroup to the western Pacific and once to the Arabian Gulf during the Tanker Wars of the late 80s. In subsequent flying tours, he served first as an instructor pilot in Mayport, Florida then as Officer-in-Charge of the helicopter detachment deployed to the Baltic and Mediterranean. Notably, Rick led his helicopter squadron’s response to the 9/11attacks.
He also served at sea as Navigator of the USS Carl Vinson, completing an 8-month deployment that spanned the entirety of the Pacific. In 2003, Rick reported to the USS BATAAN, first as executive officer and then as commanding officer, leading 1000 Sailors on a Middle East deployment. In 2013, Rick assumed command of the Expeditionary Strike Group 2, where he led a NATO+ fleet of more than 30 ships and thousands of service members from 12 countries during BALTOPS 2014, an annual exercise to strengthen partnerships and build capability in the Baltic region. And he was in charge of all amphibious Navy forces on the east coast.
Following his postgrad studies, Rick did a follow-on tour as the Navy Operations Research Analyst for the Combined and Joint Staff in the Republic of Korea. Later shore tours included Senior Fellowships at the Atlantic Council and at the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group that researched and published a study of the integrating unmanned systems into the Navy; and at the Pentagon, where Rick served the Secretary of Defense as DoD Aviation Liaison, responsible for approving all military aviation support for public affairs activities. A highlight from this time, he says, was the incredible experience of flying with the Blue Angels and jumping (skydiving) with the Golden Knights!
As for his Shore Flag Officer assignments: After leaving the USS BATAAN in 2003, Rick started what would become 7 years of joint strategy, plans, and policy work on the Joint Staff J5 and later as the J5 at NORAD/US Northern Command. Rick says that his tour on the Joint Staff was critical to both his professional growth and his ability to serve as a Flag Officer in subsequent joint positions of greater responsibility. Initially he developed and oversaw the Chairman’s efforts to build partnerships, provide foreign military sales and funding, and represent at the U.S. Military Staff Committee at the United Nations. Later, he moved on to representing the Chairman for contingency and campaign development and review, developing the National Military Strategy and assessing and implementing force posture across the globe. He served in these capacities during the earthquake in Haiti, the conflict in Libya, the killing of Osama Bin Laden, and several other historic events.
In 2014, Rick headed the Navy office responsible for Navy-wide efforts to prevent and respond to sexual assault, suicide, and substance abuse. Prior to Rick’s time in office there were many well-intentioned but scattered efforts to address the disturbing prevalence of sexual assault, suicide, and substance abuse in the Navy. The quantitative results were not improving, so Rick’s approach was to transform the culture that perpetuated such problems, thereby creating a safer, more inclusive, and fairer workplace for all Sailors. Rick and his team developed and implemented the first ever Navy-wide program to prevent and respond to sexual assault, suicide, and substance abuse, while also leading the organizational climate assessment process.
Rick’s final tour was as the 41st Inspector General for the Department of the Navy. As Inspector General, he transformed the role of the office. Instead of merely focusing on compliance-assessment, it also evaluated effectiveness, risk, and organizational climate. This was so successful that organizations began to reach out to the office, asking for assessments! He says that during his time in office, his team structured their efforts around three operational pillars: mission accomplishment, organizational development, and moving from success to significance. Rick cites this legacy of holding people appropriately accountable for misconduct and of connecting organizational culture to operational effectiveness as one of the proudest achievements of his Naval career.
Now retired, Rick is a seasoned consultant who has been with Focusing Forward since 2021. He sums up his consulting work this way:
“I focus on data-driven, strategic approaches, enhanced by leadership and organizational development, to improve organizational performance.”
Rick ‘s passion for helping others succeed combined with his years of hands-on experience in leadership make him a truly valuable asset to the clients he serves; and we’re proud to offer his services to our customers, knowing that he is more than capable of rising to meet even the biggest and most complex challenges presented to him.
But wait, there's more! Read my Q & A with Rick below.
If you are interested in working with Rick, please contact us via our contact form, subject “Rick Snyder Consulting” or call us at (571) 309 - 5884 and request to schedule an informational call to discuss Rick's consulting services.
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Q & A with Rick Snyder
1. What are 2 career accomplishments that you’re especially proud of?
- The success of those I had the opportunity to lead. There is nothing more rewarding to hear from a junior Sailor many years later who had gone on to great success.
- Leading the crew of BATAAN and shipyard team though an 8-month dry docking maintenance period, on-time and on-schedule, and then successfully regaining operational certification.
2. In your opinion, what are the top qualities that a leader should possess?
Integrity, passion, and accountability.
3. What cause or issue are you passionate about?
Suicide prevention.
4. What do you like to do when you are not working?
Playing with my 4 grandchildren who live nearby in the Jacksonville Beach, FL area.
Also: surfing, running, biking, fishing, boating, and rock climbing.
5. What are your top 2 movie and/or book recommendations?
- The movie “Rob Roy”.
- The book “Endurance”.
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