Stephen Snyder, an aircraft mechanic, was hired by the State of Utah Division of Aeronautics in April 2019. There, he assists in maintaining the state’s executive transportation as well as the Division of Wildlife’s aircraft.
“Within a week of his hiring, it became readily apparent that he is a dedicated professional with an awesome work ethic and skillset,” said Jeremy Wilde, a fellow aircraft mechanic with the State of Utah Division of Aeronautics who nominated Snyder for this year’s 40 Under 40 award. His dedication and commitment to safety is evident every single day. His sheet metal skills are unmatched, and he has saved the state a huge amount of money by utilizing this skillset.”
During his career, Snyder has freelanced as a mechanic for various flight schools, individuals and FBOs, maintaining and repairing everything from gliders to business jets. “Stephen gets the job done,” Wilde said. “His customers appreciate the service he offers. They trust him, they respect him and they appreciate his attitude and straightforward demeanor.”
Recently, Snyder achieved FAA certification as IA. He completed this training and certification on his own time, while still maintaining his duties to his employer and customers. Other training he’s received includes Abaris composite training, the Beechcraft King Air 200 Series Introduction and flight safety. At Duncan Aviation in Provo, Utah, he completed sheet metal and composite repair training. Duncan Aviation is also where he began his career in 2012, working as an airframe/structures tech.
When asked why he chose to work in the field of aviation maintenance, he said, “I always had a love for airplanes and aviation. After studying mechanical engineering for two years, he decided he didn’t want to be an engineer. “I wanted to do something more hands-on. My love for aviation and my mechanical engineering background both kind of dovetailed together and aviation maintenance just kind of became the perfect fit.”
He has been fortunate to have several mentors. He said, “The three that have had the biggest impact on me were Ward Cranor, Structures at Duncan Aviation; Monte Evans, Structures at Duncan Aviation; and Harold Jackson, who taught me GA.”
Snyder, in turn, loves to share his knowledge with others. He is currently mentoring five people and helping them earn an A&P.
Snyder said his career goals are pretty simple: “I just want to continue doing what it is that I do. Work, learn and share what I have learned with others ― Get a new generation of people excited and educated on what it takes to keep aviation safe.”
Industry associations that he belongs to include AMT Society, EAA and AOPA.
