BRIGADIER GENERAL RICHARD E. SWAN

Director, Joint Staff, Arkansas Joint Force Headquarters

Brigadier General Richard E. Swan is Director, Joint Staff, Arkansas Joint Force Headquarters. He is responsible for managing and directing the Joint Staff to continue the transformation of the organization into a joint force, as well as conducting applicable joint operations and functions. General Swan also serves as Chief of Staff, Arkansas Army National Guard. In this capacity he manages and directs the administration, coordination, planning, development, execution and supervision of all Arkansas Army National Guard programs. General Swan serves as the principle federal official with direct oversight and management of the organization under The Adjutant General's supervision. He is responsible for the operations and activities of all programs, activities, functions, and resource areas of the organization. He assists The Adjutant General in his responsibility to direct and oversee the activities of the organization to accomplish statutory and regulatory functions through four basic functions: monitoring; coordinating; advising; and assisting. General Swan also assists The Adjutant General in his mission of providing trained, ready professionals and units responsive to the needs of the nation, state, and community.

General Swan's commissioning source was the Officer Candidate School of the Arkansas Military Academy during the period from 1976 to 1977 and he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Arkansas National Guard on May 14, 1977. General Swan has held a wide variety of assignments in the organization at the platoon, company, brigade, state, and Joint Force Headquarters levels. He was assigned as the State's Director of Military Support for five years, managing a wide variety of local and state military support to civil authorities' missions. His first assignment as a general officer was as Commander, Land Component Command, Arkansas Joint Force Headquarters. Prior to General Swan's commissioning he was an enlisted member in Company C, 875th Engineer Battalion of the Arkansas Army National Guard.

EDUCATION:

1985 Arkansas State University, Associates of General Studies, Jonesboro, Arkansas
1994 The University of the State of New York, Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Arts, Albany, New York
2001 United States Army War College, Master of Science, Strategic Studies, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
2001 United States Army War College, by Correspondence
2004 Touro University International, Master of Business Administration, Business Research, Cypress, California

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. May 1977 - October 1979, Platoon Leader, Company C, 875th Engineer Battalion, Marked Tree, Arkansas
2. November 1979 - August 1981, Training/Staff Officer, 875th Engineer Battalion, Jonesboro, Arkansas
3. August 1982 - August 1984, Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 875th Engineer Battalion, Jonesboro, Arkansas
4. September 1984 - March 1988, S1, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 875th Engineer Battalion, Jonesboro, Arkansas
5. April 1988 - July 1989, Staff Management Officer, State Area Regional Command, Arkansas Army National Guard, North Little Rock, Arkansas
6. August 1989 - April 1991, Mobilization and Plans Officer, 87th Troop Command, Camp Robinson, Arkansas
7. May 1991 - April 1994, Training Staff Officer, State Area Regional Command, Camp Robinson, Arkansas
8. May 1994 - April 1995, Logistics Officer, 87th Troop Command, Camp Robinson, Arkansas
9. May 1995 - September 1995, Executive Officer, 87th Troop Command, Camp Robinson, Arkansas
10. October 1995 - September 1997, Commander, 25th Rear Operations Center, North Little Rock, Arkansas
11. October 1997 - May 2002, Director of Military Support, State Area Regional Command, Camp Robinson, Arkansas
12. June 2002 - December 2005, Commander, 233rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, State Area Regional Command, Camp Robinson, Arkansas
13. January 2006 - December 2007, Commander, Land Component Command, Arkansas Joint Force Headquarters, Camp Robinson, Arkansas
14. January 2008 - Present, Director, Joint Staff, Arkansas Joint Force Headquarters Camp Robinson, Arkansas

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hour Glass)
Army Service Ribbon
Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
Arkansas Distinguished Service Medal
Arkansas Exceptional Service Medal
Arkansas Service Ribbon (with1 Silver Diamond)
Arkansas Emergency Service Ribbon (with 1 Silver Diamond and 1 Bronze Diamond)

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:

November 2007 - Present, Chief of Staff, Arkansas Army National Guard, Arkansas Joint Force Headquarters, Camp Robinson, Arkansas

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP AND AFFILIATIONS:

National Guard Association of The United States
National Guard Association of Arkansas
Enlisted Association of Arkansas

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS:

Second Lieutenant ARNG 14 May 1977
First Lieutenant ARNG 13 May 1980
Captain ARNG 18 May 1983
Major ARNG 7 August 1989
Lieutenant Colonel ARNG 3 June 1995
Colonel ARNG 3 May 2000
Brigadier General (LINE) 12 October 2006

(Current as of February 2011)