Rate My Professor Tony Schneider

Tony Schneider served as Professor of Naval Science and Commanding Officer of the University of New Mexico's NROTC unit from 1965 to 1968. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Westminster College in Missouri in 1939 and a master's degree in foreign policy from Boston University in 1962. These qualifications supported his academic role in training naval midshipmen, drawing on his extensive naval experience. Prior to UNM, he was executive officer of the NROTC program at the University of Louisville.

Schneider's distinguished 31-year U.S. Navy career ended with retirement as a Captain in 1970. A highly decorated dive bomber pilot in World War II, he flew over 60 combat missions aboard carriers including USS Enterprise, Yorktown, and Lexington. Notable actions included raids on Marshall and Gilbert islands, support for the Doolittle Raid, Battle of Midway, Guadalcanal strikes from Henderson Field, attack on a Tokyo aircraft plant, and close air support for Iwo Jima and Okinawa invasions during Operation Ten-Go. For these, he received two Navy Crosses, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, Legion of Merit, six Air Medals, Presidential Unit Citation (three), and Joint Service Commendation Medal. Post-war assignments encompassed advanced training at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, tactics development for anti-submarine warfare in Key West, Pentagon work on tactical publications for anti-submarine and all-weather operations (1951-1953), squadron command of F3D Skyknight night fighters in San Diego and Hawaii, executive officer on USS Bon Homme Richard, Naval War College attendance, NORAD assistant (1962-1965), airbase commander at Subic Bay, Philippines (1968), and Navy inspector general. His naval expertise directly informed his professorial duties at UNM in naval science education.