Colonel David E. Swanson

Colonel David Swanson currently serves as the Director of Engineering and Architectures, Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), Los Angeles Air Force Base (LAAFB), CA.  Col Swanson is also the Center’s Chief Engineer.  As SMC’s technical authority, Col Swanson leads a team of 140+ military, government civilian and contractors who are responsible to the SMC Commander, for the quality of all engineering, technical, architecting, test/evaluation, and mission assurance activities for military space and missile programs.

Originally from Libertyville, Illinois, Col Swanson earned his commission in 1986 after graduating from Southern Illinois University with a degree in Electrical Engineering.  He began his Air Force career as a student in the second class of Undergraduate Space Training, Lowry AFB, CO.  After graduation in 1986, he trained and was certified to operate the FLTSATCOM constellation of spacecraft.  In the intervening years, Col Swanson has been an analyst in Phillips Laboratory’s Satellite Assessment Center, a project manager in Space and Missiles System Center’s Space Test Program, a programmer in the National Reconnaissance Office’s Plans and Programs Directorate and the Executive Officer to the NRO’s Deputy Director.  He has held the position of Deputy Division Chief in the National Security Space Architect, was an orbital analyst and the Chief of the Special Operations vault in Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center’s Satellite Control Center, and served as a speech writer to the Commander in Chief of USSPACECOM, General Ralph E. Eberhart.  Col Swanson served as the Deputy Chief of Special Technical Operations in USSPACEOM’s Space Control Branch just before USSPACECOM and USSTRATCOM merged.  Before relocating to LAAFB, Col Swanson was stationed at the United States Air Force Academy where he was an Assistant Professor of Astronautics, was the Advisor in Charge of the Space Operations major, built a Summer SPACE program, and was the Managing Director for the Institute for Information Technology Applications.  He holds Masters Degrees from the Air Force Institute of Technology in Space Operations, from the University of Colorado in Electrical Engineering, and from Air University in Military Arts and Sciences.

EDUCATION:

1986    Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL

1992    Master of Science degree in Space Operations, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

1993    Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL

1993    Master of Science degree in Electric Engineering, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO

2000    Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL

2000    Master of Arts degree in Military Arts and Sciences, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL

2005    Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL

ASSIGNMENTS:

Jul 2008 – Present, Director, Engineering and Architectures and SMC Chief Engineer, Space and Missile Systems Center, LAAFB, CA

Jun 2007 – Jun 2008, Managing Director of the Institute for Information Technology Applications, Department of Education, US Air Force Academy, USAFA, CO

Jul 2003 – Jun 2007, Assistant Professor, Department of Astronautics, US Air Force Academy, USAFA, CO

Aug 2002 – Jul 2003, Deputy Chief, Special Technical Operations. Space Control Division, HQ USSPACECOM, Peterson AFB, CO

Feb 2002 – Aug 2002, Speech Writer, CINC’s Action Group, HQ USSPACECOM, Peterson AFB, CO

Sep 2001 – Feb 2002, Deputy Chief, Space Operations Division, Cheyenne Mountains Operations Center, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, CO

Sep 2000 – Sep 2001, Deputy Chief, Special Operations Branch, Cheyenne Mountains Operations Center, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, CO

Jul 2000 – Sep 2000, Deputy Chief, Special Operations Branch, Cheyenne Mountains Operations Center, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, CO

Aug 1999 – Jul 2000, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL

Oct 1998 – Aug 1999, Deputy Chief, Capabilities Division, National Security Space Architect, Alexandria, VA

Jul 1997 – Oct 1998, Executive Officer to the Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, VA

Jun 1996 – Jul 1997, Staff Officer, Plans and Programs Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, VA

Oct 1994 – Jun 1996, Project Manager, Tri-service Space Experiment 5 Satellite, Space Test Program, Kirtland AFB, NM

Mar 1993 – Oct 1994, Chief, Signature and Imaging Branch, Satellite Assessment Center, Kirtland AFB, NM

Jan 1993 – Feb 1993, Student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL

May 1991 – Dec 1992, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

Jan 1991 – May 1991, Chief, MILSTAR, DSCS III Simulation Systems, 2SW, Falcon AFB, CO

Feb 1990 – Jan 1991, FLTSATCOM Crew Commander, 3SCS, Falcon AFB, CO

Oct 1987 – Feb 1990, FLTSATCOM Planner Analyst, 3SCS, Falcon AFB, CO

Mar 1987 – Oct 1988, Student, Satellite Technical Operations Course, Colorado Springs, CO

Nov 1986 – Mar 1987, Student, Undergraduate Space Training, Lowry AFB, CO

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant    19 Aug 1986

First Lieutenant        19 Aug 1988

Captain                     19 Aug 1990

Major                       01 May 1998

Lieutenant Colonel  01 Nov 2002

Colonel                    01 Mar 2008

(Current as of Aug 2008)