Col. William Snyder, a Grand Island resident, takes command of Buffalo-based Army National Guard brigade

Buffalo, New York (12/15/2025) — New York Army National Guard Col. William Snyder, a Grand Island resident and veteran of the war in Afghanistan, took command of the Guard's 153rd Troop Command Brigade during a ceremony in the historic Connecticut Street Armory on Saturday. Dec. 13, 2025.

Snyder took over from Col. Christopher Guilmette, who has led the brigade's more than 1,600 Soldiers since May 2022.

The 153rd Troop Command Brigade is headquartered in Buffalo, overseeing military police, engineer, explosive ordnance disposal, medical, and transportation units across the state, and leading the Guard's joint task force in western New York during emergencies and civil support operations.

"The command of a multifunctional brigade is a task of immense complexity and responsibility. It is a command that requires not just confidence, but truly effective and strong leadership," said Brig. Gen. Isabel Smith, director of the New York National Guard's Joint Staff.

Snyder, the brigade's new commanding officer, began his career in the Guard as an enlisted welder in 1996. He served seven years before graduating from the state's Officer Candidate School and receiving his commission as an engineer officer. He has served in leadership positions at the platoon, company, battalion, and brigade level, including most recently as executive officer for the 153rd.

Now, as the brigade's senior officer, Snyder turns to its newest mission - leading the Federal Emergency Management Administration's Region II Homeland Response Force.

The HRF provides specialized military support to civilian authorities in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear incident.

"What I'm going to be doing over the next couple of years is getting them ready to respond to any issues that may happen, not only in New York State, but across the country," said Snyder. "We have a lot of work cut our for us."

Snyder brings a wide range of experience to the brigade, having deployed to Afghanistan as a training assistance group engineer in 2008, to Kuwait as a battalion logistics officer in 2012, to Ukraine as the brigade engineer for the Joint Multinational Training Group - Ukraine, and to Germany as the JMTG-U deputy commander and officer in charge of the mission's mobile training team. He also served on major state active-duty missions across New York, including the state's COVID-19 response mission, Asylum Seeker mission, and support of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. But it's fulfilling the National Guard's role in Buffalo that he's most excited about.

"It's just great to be in my hometown and be able to command the unit right in the local community," he said.

In his civilian career, Snyder is a high school history teacher for the Oakfield-Alabama Central School District.

During the ceremony Guilmette was each awarded the Legion of Merit medal.

Guilmette's next assignment is as the Deputy United States Property and Fiscal Officer for the New York National Guard, where he will help manage federal funds, equipment, and property for the state, and serve as a link to the Department of War for compliance, logistics, and finance.

Col. William Snyder Col. William F. Snyder, a Grand Island resident, enlisted as a welder in the New York Army National Guard in October 1996 and was assigned to the 152nd Engineer Battalion in Buffalo, N.Y. where he served for seven years.

In 2003, Snyder graduated from the New York National Guard's Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an engineer officer. He was assigned as a platoon leader in the 152nd Engineer Battalion from 2003 until taking command of Alpha Company, 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Lockport, N.Y. in 2005.

In 2008, Snyder deployed to Afghanistan as a training assistance group engineer with New York's 106th Regional Training Institute. He returned to the 27th BSTB in 2009 to serve as the BSTB's logistics officer and deployed to Kuwait in that role in 2012.

Following deployment, Snyder served as the BSTB's operations officer and then executive officer.

In 2017, Snyder deployed to Ukraine as the Joint Multinational Training Group - Ukraine brigade engineer.

He served as a liaison officer with the 42nd Infantry Division in Troy, NY until taking command of the 152nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in 2019.

In 2022, Snyder deployed to Germany as JMTG-U deputy commander and officer in charge of the mission's Mobile Training Team.

He most recently served as executive officer for the 153rd Troop Command Brigade in Buffalo.

In addition to his assignments, Snyder has served on major state active-duty missions in New York, including the state's COVID-19 response mission, Asylum Seeker mission, and support of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

He has participated in training deployments to South Korea, the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California, and the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Snyder's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon.

Snyder holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies Secondary Education and a Master of Science in History from Buffalo State College. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Engineer Officer Basic Course, U.S. Army Maneuver Captain's Career Course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and U.S. Army War College.

In his civilian career, Snyder is a high school history teacher for the Oakfield-Alabama Central School District.

The 153rd Troop Command Brigade Headquartered in the historic Connecticut Street Armory in Buffalo, New York, the 153rd Troop Command Brigade carries a rich history dedicated to serving New York and the nation. Established in 2006 through a reorganization of the 42nd Infantry Division's Engineer Brigade, the 153rd Troop Command Brigade builds upon a legacy dating back to the late 19th century.

The Brigade currently commands close to 1,600 Soldiers in diverse units across New York State - Engineers, Military Police, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Medical, and Transportation - providing Command and Control to 14 unique units that train and mobilize locally, nationally, and internationally. The 153rd Troop Command Brigade upholds a legacy of commitment to mission and state.

The brigade plays a critical role in both state and federal missions. Serving as the command of Joint Task Force V in 18 Western New York Counties and as the FEMA Region II Homeland Response Force, the brigade stands ready to respond to emergencies.

The 153rd Troop Command Brigade has supported multiple civil support operations and relief efforts, including Snowstorm Stella in the Northeastern United States in 2017 and Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the Caribbean in 2017. The command's Soldiers mobilized and moved millions of dollars of equipment to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands in record time for the hurricane relief efforts. Hundreds of 153rd TCB Soldiers deployed in support of the New York National Guard's COVID-19 response efforts in 2020. In February 2025, the brigade was called to state active duty to support the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

The brigade's subordinate units have a distinguished record of service, including multiple combat tours, overseas deployments, and consistent support to state and local authorities.

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