Jonathan Snyder retired from the U.S. Air Force working as a photojournalist, social media manager, reporter, and audiovisual production specialist in 2026. Throughout the span of his more than 20 year career he has traveled the globe documenting war, natural disasters, and telling the service members story.

He began his military career in 2005. After completing basic training, he went on to graduate with honors from the Defense Information School in Basic Still Photography. His first assignment was as a photographer at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. During that time, he deployed to Iraq to cover Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was then selected to attend the competitive Military Photojournalism program at Syracuse University in 2009. From there, he was assigned to the 3rd Combat Camera Squadron, working as an aerial combat photojournalist. During that time, he deployed to the Middle East, including Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2013, he was 1 of 100 students selected to attend The Eddie Adams Workshop XXVI. He then went on to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, as the NCOIC of Command Information and the 9C flying program manager. In 2019, he was stationed at the Pentagon, working for the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs social media management team. He was then selected to work for Stars and Stripes Pacific, a First Amendment-protected, editorially independent publication, where he covered Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and Sasebo Naval Base as a reporter in Japan. His last assignment was at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, with the 2nd Audiovisual Squadron, working on video productions and live broadcast assignments with the Air Force’s only $2.5 million broadcast truck.

His work has been published in many major publications such as Stars and Stripes, Time Magazine, Washington Times, and Business Insider. He has also accumulated many awards and accolades in the Air Force Media Contest, Military Photographer of the Year competition, NPPA monthly multimedia contest, Telly Awards, and the Air Force Photo Contest.