Douglas Warren Swanson is a native of northern Wisconsin. In 1984, he entered Aviation Officer Candidate School after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business/Finance from the University of Montana in 1982. While at AOCS, he met his future wife Melissa and they were married in June 1986. Following the completion of S-3 training at VS-41 at NAS North Island, he was transferred to VS-22 at Cecil Field, FL for his initial fleet tour on board the USS John F. Kennedy.
In 1989, he was assigned to instructor duty at VS-27 and re-designated as a Training and Administration of Reserves (TAR) officer. During his tour at VS-27 he qualified as a weapons instructor and a CQ instructor, with over 180 student arrested landings. As Fleet Project Team Leader, then LT Swanson prioritized all simulator and aircraft software requirements, and led a multi-agency team in the acquisition of a state-of-the-art visual simulator system. Concurrently, he trained and managed VS reservists assigned to VS-0174. He also earned a Masters degree in Business Administration during this tour.
LT Swanson reported to the Navy Postgraduate School in 1992 where he earned a MS in Information Technology Management. He graduated in September 1995 receiving the Navy League Award for maintaining "the most outstanding academic record". LCDR Swanson was also awarded the Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper award for "outstanding academic and leadership accomplishments in the study of Information Technologies Management."
LCDR Swanson's next assignment was to the Naval Reserve Information Systems Office in New Orleans. He established the Data Management Department and chartered a groundbreaking initiative for a Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Software Integration Office, developing a landmark life cycle methodology for using COTS software in DoD systems which was presented to the Software Engineering Institute and Louisiana State University, and helped shape DoD policy.
LCDR Swanson transferred to Naval Air Reserve Whidbey Island in 1998, where he served as Reserve Programs Director, Executive Officer and acting Commanding Officer. During this tour he also served on the Source Selection and Evaluation Board for the Navy/Marine Corps Intranet, a multi-billion dollar outsourcing program for the Navy’s computer infrastructure. In 2001, he transferred to the CNO’s staff as the Deputy CIO for the Naval Reserve, where he was a leader in Navy and DoD work in Knowledge Management and Application Portfolio Management.
CDR Swanson was selected for the 2003-2004 Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellowship Program and detailed to Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, WA. He was assigned to the Vice President for Operations and Technology, and played a formative role in a number of key initiatives including launching a Six Sigma program. He was then assigned as the Chief Architect on Task Force Warrior, where he was a leading change agent in the Navy’s Sea Warrior program until January of 2006.
Following a brief stop at US Fleet Forces Command, where he led a transformation in Personnel Readiness under the Defense Readiness Reporting System initiative, CAPT Swanson was assigned as the Navy Reserve CIO, until May of 2009. He focused on advancing Active Reserve Integration, NGEN, and modernizing the aging MPT&E application portfolio. He is presently assigned as the Director of Network Operations at NETWARCOM. Personal awards include the Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, and two Navy Achievement Medals.
He is happily married with a son Nathaniel, and a daughter Lauren. He is actively involved in his community, coaching youth sports and volunteering in local schools. He and his family enjoy spending time camping, traveling, and are active in their local church.