Bradley Snyder

After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) in 2006, Brad spent seven years on active duty with the U.S. Navy as an explosive ordnance disposal officer. In 2011, Brad suffered complete vision loss as the result of  a combat injury in Afghanistan. Within a year, however, Brad earned a spot on Team USA, and swam to gold in the London Paralympics. Brad stuck with Team USA through the Rio Games, and currently owns five gold medals and a world record. He is training hard with the hopes of qualifying for his third Paralympics in Tokyo, this time in the sport of triathlon.  

When he’s not training or competing, Brad serves as a fellow in the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership at his alma mater USNA. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Policy with the intention of becoming a tenured professor in the leadership and ethics department. In this role, Brad hopes to leverage his personal experiences along with his developed expertise to inspire future generations of leaders and warriors. Brad also serves as an athlete representative on the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s Board of Directors, and is the advisory board chair for the Navy Special Operations Foundation.

Brad’s mission is to study and apply virtue in all aspects of life in order to empower society’s pursuit of happiness. Brad is newly married to his soulmate Sara, and the two live in a lovely home on beautiful Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Maryland.