Lieutenant Colonel Swan graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1991 with a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He was then commissioned a Second Lieutenant via the Marine Corps’ Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) program. In April of 1992, Second Lieutenant Swan reported to the Marine Corps Combat Development Center in Quantico, Virginia for initial officer training at The Basic School. In November 1992 he reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida where he began his initial flight training. Upon completion of flight school in April 1995, First Lieutenant Swan reported to VFA-106 at Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, Florida for replacement aircrew training in the F/A-18 Hornet.

In October 1996, Captain Swan reported to Marine Aircraft Group-31, MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina and was subsequently assigned to VMFA-251. During his next four years as a “T-Bolt,” Captain Swan made two Aircraft Carrier deployments. The first was from November 1997 to April 1998 aboard the USS George Washington (CVN-73) and the second from October 1999 to March 2000 aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). Both times aboard the carriers he flew in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. During this tour he served as the Squadron’s Ground Safety Officer, NATOPS Officer, Powerline Officer, Maintenance Quality Assurance Officer, Flight Officer, and as the Pilot Training Officer. He was also designated an Air Combat Tactics Instructor (ACTI), Section Lead, Division Lead and F/A-18 Mission Commander.

In May 2000, Captain Swan reported to VMFA-321, MAG-49 Det A, at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. During this Inspector & Instructor tour, he served as the Squadron’s Pilot Training Officer, Operations Officer, and as the MAG-49 Det A Executive Officer. While at VMFA-321, Major Swan participated in Operation BRIGHT STAR 2000, and NATO exercises in Leuchars, Scotland and Karup, Denmark. After the terrorists attacks of 11 September 2001, Major Swan flew Combat-Air-Patrols over Washington DC as a part of Operation NOBLE EAGLE. In September 2000, he attended MAWTS-1’s Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course 1-01 and was designated a F/A-18 WTI.

In July 2004, Major Swan returned to Quantico, Virginia to attend resident Command and Staff College. While in Quantico, he earned his Master of Military Science degree from the Marine Corps University. In July 2005, Major Swan was assigned back to the Fleet Marine Force and reported to VMFA(AW)-242. While with the “Bats” he served as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer during the Squadron’s combat deployment to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and as the Executive Officer upon the unit’s return from Iraq in April 2007.

In June 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Swan was selected to serve as Staff Secretary for the Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Upon completion of his tour as the I MEF Staff Secretary, he was selected to serve as the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s (MEU) Executive Officer. In February 2009, Lieutenant Colonel Swan left the 11th MEU and reported back to MAG-11 for F/A-18 refresher training prior to assuming command of the “Death Rattlers” of VMFA-323.

Lieutenant Colonel Swan has flown over 3350 mishap-free flight hours and over 200 aerial combat missions. His personal decorations include the Air Medal with Strike/Flight numeral 10, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two Gold Stars.