| bgcolor=darkgray | Birthdate | bgcolor=darkgray | December 13, 1939 | |
| bgcolor=lightgrey | Hometown | bgcolor=lightgrey | Woodstock, New York, U.S. | |
| bgcolor=darkgray | Education | bgcolor=darkgray | U.S. Air Force Academy, B.S. 1961 | |
| bgcolor=lightgrey | Medals | bgcolor=lightgrey | Distinguished Flying Cross | |
Following Vietnam, Les began as a flight engineer for Trans World Airlines (TWA). He then transferred to Saudi Airlines and spent seven years there where he learned Arabic and earned his gemologist degree. Upon return to the United States, he flew for TWA until his retirement in 1997 as a DC-9 captain.
Les Schneider's most significant professional achievement occurred on March 16, 1966. He and his 10-man sea rescue crew aboard Naha Rescue One (a DC-4 aircraft) were on emergency alert to rescue the Gemini 8 capsule containing Neil Armstrong and David Scott in case of an emergency re-entry.
Mechanical problems forced Armstrong to do just that: he had to perform an emergency re-entry into the East China Sea. Schneider was the pilot who saw the descent of the capsule; three pararescuers jumped from his plane and attached a flotation collar.
Although not as well known as the Apollo 13 rescue, the Gemini 8 rescue proved to have great importance, since it was Armstrong who would be the one to first step onto the moon.