Guy C. Swan III

Last updated
Guy C. Swan III
Guy C Swan III.jpg
Born (1954-01-28) January 28, 1954 (age 69)
New Jersey, United States [1]
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1976–2011
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held United States Army North
Military District of Washington
Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region
7th Army Training Command
11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment
Battles/wars Gulf War
Awards Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star Medal
First Lady Betty Ford during former President Gerald Ford's state funeral. GeneralSwanAndBettyFord.jpg
First Lady Betty Ford during former President Gerald Ford's state funeral.

Lieutenant General Guy Carleton Swan III (born January 28, 1954) [2] is a retired United States Army officer. His final assignment was Commanding General United States Army North at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Contents

Swan grew up in the Pines Lake neighborhood of Wayne, New Jersey, where he attended Wayne Hills High School. [3]

Military career

Swan was commissioned as an armor officer from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in June 1976. After graduation and initial officer training, he served in Korea as a tank platoon leader in the 2nd Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor. Upon returning to the United States in 1978, he joined the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, Texas, serving as a cavalry platoon leader, troop executive officer, and squadron adjutant.

From 1982 to 1985, Swan was the commanding officer of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington, and later served as aide-de-camp to the commanding general, 9th Infantry Division (Motorized). From 1985 to 1987 Swan served as an Armor Branch assignment officer in Washington, D.C. He graduated from the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1988 and from the School of Advanced Military Studies in 1989.

Swan then served as the chief, G3 Plans for the 1st Armored Division, VII Corps, US Army Europe and Seventh Army in Ansbach, Germany, and later as the division's deputy G3 (Operations) in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In 1991 he returned to the cavalry, joining the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Blackhorse), V Corps, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army where he served as the executive officer of the 1st Squadron in Kuwait during Operation Positive Force, and as the regimental executive officer in Fulda, Germany.

Swan commanded the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, an M1A1 Abrams main battle tank unit, in the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, Ga., from July 1993 to July 1995. He then completed a year-long National Security Fellowship at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

From June 1996 to June 1998, Swan was the regimental commander for the 2500-soldier 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Blackhorse), serving as the 57th colonel of the regiment and as the commander of the Opposing Forces (OPFOR) at the US Army's National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California.

Swan served at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., from June 1998 to August 2000 as the assistant deputy director for strategy and policy (J-5) for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Swan took up a training mission again, this time as commanding general of the 7th Army Training Command (7th ATC), which he led from September 2000 to August 2002 at the Grafenwoehr/Hohenfels Training Area in Upper Bavaria, Germany. In that capacity, he was responsible for supporting the military training readiness of the 65,000 US Army Soldiers based in Europe.

Returning to Washington, D.C., Swan became the Army's "pointman" on Capitol Hill, serving as the Army's Chief of Legislative Liaison from August 2002 to July 2005. Prior to his assignment to USNORTHCOM, Swan was the commanding general of the Military District of Washington (CG/MDW) and Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region (JFHQ-NCR) from July 21, 2005 through June 5, 2007.

As CG MDW/JFHQ-NCR, Swan became a known figure when he escorted Betty Ford during the nine days in December 2006 and January 2007 that marked the death and state funeral of her husband, former U.S. president Gerald Ford. His immediate predecessor, Major General Galen B. Jackman, escorted former First Lady Nancy Reagan at the state funeral of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan.

Swan retired in December, 2011, after relinquishing command to William B. Caldwell IV. [4]

As of 2012, Swan was serving as Vice President of the Association of the United States Army. [5]

On July 31, 2019, President Trump announced his intention to appoint Swan to be a Member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Military Academy. [6]

Qualifications and decorations

Swan holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security Studies from Georgetown University and a Master of Military Art and Science degree from the School of Advanced Military Studies. His awards include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Ranger Tab, the Parachutist Badge, and the United States Armor Association's Honorable Order of St. George.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">11th Armored Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment is a unit of the United States Army garrisoned at the Fort Irwin National Training Center in California. Although termed an armored cavalry regiment, it is being re-organized as a multi-component heavy brigade combat team. The regiment has served in the Philippine–American War, the Pancho Villa Expedition, World War II, the Vietnam War, Gulf War and Iraq War. The 11th ACR serves as the opposing force (OPFOR) for the Army and Marine task forces, and foreign military forces that train at Fort Irwin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galen B. Jackman</span>

Galen Bruce Jackman is a retired United States Army Major General. His last assignment in the Army was serving in the Pentagon as the Army's Chief Legislative Liaison. The Office of the Chief Legislative Liaison (OCLL) operates directly under the Office of the Secretary of the Army. Its mission is to coordinate efforts between the US Army and Congress. Prior to his assignment with the OCLL, he was the first commanding general of the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region (JFHQ-NCR), a dual-hatted role combined with commanding the Military District of Washington (MDW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Army Military District of Washington</span> US Army command

The United States Army Military District of Washington (MDW) is one of nineteen major commands of the United States Army. Its headquarters are located at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C. The missions of the units in the Military District of Washington include ceremonial tasks as well as a combat role in the defense of the National Capital Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region</span> Military unit

Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region (JFHQ-NCR) is directly responsible for the homeland security and defense of the Washington D.C. area as well as surrounding counties in Virginia and Maryland. Primarily made up of joint military units within the National Capital Region, the JFHQ-NCR assists federal and local civilian agencies and disaster response teams in the event that the capital area's security is or possibly could be breached by acts of terrorism. Officially activated on September 22, 2004, JFHQ-NCR is part of United States Northern Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles C. Campbell (general)</span> United States Army general

Charles Christopher "Hondo" Campbell was a United States Army officer who served as the 17th Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM). He previously served as FORSCOM's Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff from April 26, 2006, to January 8, 2007. He assumed the commanding general assignment January 9, 2007, and completed it on June 3, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donn A. Starry</span>

General Donn Albert Starry was a United States Army four-star general who served as commanding general of United States Army Training and Doctrine Command from 1977 to 1981, and as commander in chief of United States Readiness Command from 1981 to 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Fil</span> United States Army general

Major General Joseph Frederick Fil Jr. was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in June 1976. He is a Distinguished Military Graduate of San José State University. He has served in Army units in the United States, Germany, Belgium and Iraq.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas W. Herren</span> United States Army general

Thomas Wade Herren was a United States Army officer and combat commander whose career spanned from World War I to the post-Korean War era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert W. Cone</span> US Army general

Robert William Cone was a United States Army four-star general who last served as the commanding general of United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). He assumed command of TRADOC on 29 April 2011. He previously served as the commander of Fort Hood and III Corps on 22 September 2009, with which he deployed to Iraq in February 2010, and served as the Deputy Commanding General for Operations, United States Forces – Iraq, until February 2011. Prior to that, he served as the Special Assistant to the Commanding General of TRADOC. He retired in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William S. Wallace</span> US Army general

William Scott Wallace is a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He served as Commanding General, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) at Fort Monroe, Virginia from October 13, 2005, to December 8, 2008. He retired from the army on December 8, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert B. Abrams</span> US Army general

Robert Bruce Abrams is a retired four-star general in the United States Army who last served as the commander of United States Forces Korea. He concurrently served as the commander of United Nations Command and commander of R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command. He previously served as the 22nd commanding general of United States Army Forces Command from August 10, 2015 to October 17, 2018. He is a 1982 graduate of the United States Military Academy where he was commissioned as an armor officer. During his years of active service, he has held command and staff positions across the Army and joint community in Germany, the United States, Southwest Asia and South Korea. Abrams comes from a family of career military officers. His father was former Army Chief of Staff General Creighton W. Abrams Jr., and both of his elder brothers, Creighton and John, were Army general officers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terence Hildner</span>

Brigadier General Terence John Hildner was a United States Army General Officer who served as commander of the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) from 2010 until his death in 2012. He is the second highest-ranking American officer to die while serving in the war in Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Robertson Desobry</span> United States Army general

William Robertson Desobry was a senior U.S. Army field commander in Germany during the Cold War, and a Lieutenant General in the United States Army. General Desobry was a decorated hero from World War II, and played a significant role as an advisor to the Republic of Vietnam Army and on the Army Staff during the Vietnam War. In addition to commanding a division and corps, he was the Commanding General of the Armor Center and was the President of the XM-1 Tank Task Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul E. Funk II</span> U.S. Army general

Paul Edward Funk II is a retired four-star general in the United States Army who last served as the commanding officer of the Army Training and Doctrine Command. He previously served as the 60th Commanding General of III Corps and Fort Hood, Texas, and as the Commanding General, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. Funk was born at Fort Hood, Texas, graduated from Fort Knox High School, and was commissioned an Armor Officer through ROTC upon graduation from Montana State University in 1984. His first assignments saw him serve in a variety of Armor and Cavalry roles to include Tank Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Squadron Commander of 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment and Brigade Commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division located at Fort Hood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph M. Martin</span> US Army general

Joseph Matthew Martin is a retired general in the United States Army who served as the 37th Vice Chief of Staff of the Army from 2019 to 2022. He previously served as the director of the Army Staff in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas S. James Jr.</span> United States Army Lieutenant General

Thomas S. James Jr. is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who last served as the 39th Commanding General of the First United States Army headquartered at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois. He held his latest position from October 29, 2018 to July 8, 2021, after having previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert C. Smith (United States Army officer)</span> United States Army general (1894–1974)

Major General Albert Cowper Smith was an officer in the United States Army. He is most noted for his service as Commanding General of the 14th Armored Division during the later part of World War II. Smith and his division liberated Prisoner-of-war camps, Oflag XIII-B and Stalag VII-A in April 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John T. Cole</span> United States Army general (1895–1975)

John Tupper Cole was a highly decorated officer in the United States Army with the rank of Brigadier General. A graduate of the United States Military Academy and veteran of both World Wars, he is most noted for his service as Colonel and Commanding officer, Combat Command B, 5th Armored Division during combats on the Western Front.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonio Aguto</span> U.S. Army general

Antonio Alzona Aguto Jr. is a United States Army lieutenant general who serves as the commander of Security Assistance Group–Ukraine since December 2022. He most recently served as the 40th commanding general of First United States Army from July 8, 2021, to December 2, 2022. He previously served as the Commanding General of the 3rd Infantry Division and prior to that served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Training of the United States Army Forces Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bradley Becker</span> U.S. Army general

Bradley A. Becker is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who last served as the 6th commanding general of the United States Army Installation Management Command from September 5, 2018, to August 15, 2019. He previously served as Chief of the Office of Security Cooperation - Iraq from January 2017 to April 2018. Previous commands he held include serving as commanding general of the United States Army Military District of Washington and commander of the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region from June 2015 to April 2017, and prior to that as the 46th commanding general of the National Training Center at Fort Jackson from August 2013 to May 2015.

References

  1. "Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, United States Military Academy". 1984.
  2. http://www.publicbackgroundchecks.com/SearchResponse.aspx?view=NM&fn=GUY&mn=CARLETON&ln=SWAN&city=&state=&zip=&dob=19540128&age= [ bare URL ]
  3. Barry, Jan. "Army general from Wayne had key role at Ford funeral" Archived 2013-07-09 at archive.today , The Record (Bergen County) , January 1, 2007. Accessed July 8, 2013. "Swan, who grew up in Wayne, was the military escort for Betty Ford at the funeral ceremonies in California and in the nation's capital, where he is the commander of the Military District of Washington. Swan's widely televised role as Mrs. Ford's escort set off a buzz among former neighbors in the Pines Lake section where he grew up and among Wayne Hills High School classmates."
  4. News article, Swan relinquishes command of U.S. Army North Archived 2012-01-17 at the Wayback Machine , by Sergeant First Class Manuel Torres-Cortes, U.S. Army North Public Affairs, published on Military City Medical Magazine web site, December 12, 2011
  5. Association of the United States Army, Executive Leadership Page, accessed May 30, 2012
  6. “President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts”, White House, July 31, 2019,