DAVID C. SWANSON 71 London Drive, Fort Bragg, NC 28307 / 762-359-5691 / david.swanson100@gmail.com

Junior Military Officer with 7 years of experience leading organizations, managing personnel, and stewarding resources. Successfully leading joint multi-national combat troops in a stability environment yields practical experience in security, governance, and infrastructure development as well as interpersonal skills and team-building.

- Selected repeatedly for trusted positions ahead of peers and above pay-grade (Scout Platoon Leader, Primary Battalion S1, Fallen Angel Escort)

- Designed and implemented a plan for effective training, employment, and sustainment of 92 Afghan Local Police (ALP) Officers across 7 different ALP checkpoints in Afghanistan.

- Mentored district- and provincial-level government, security, and business officials in Afghanistan; nurtured relationships and supervised numerous social and infrastructure projects which were key to an ahead-of-time transfer of authority from US troops to the Afghan National Army (ANA) in the district.

- Managed a team of human resource specialists responsible for all administrative and personnel functions for over 1450 employees spread across 2 continents and separated by 8 time zones.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Brigade Operations Planner January 2016 – Present

82nd Airborne Division Fort Bragg, NC (FBNC)

Principal assistant to the Brigade Plans Officer. Responsible for planning mid- and long-range training events, interfacing with multiple agencies and affecting over 4,000 Paratroopers.

- PLANNING: Lead planner and execution officer-in-charge of combined arms live fire exercises for over 1,600 Paratroopers. Seamlessly and safely integrated ground troops, field artillery, and attack aviation helicopters across 36 iterations over 12 days. Event was recognized by the Corps Commander, Division Commander, and Brigade Commander as the premier combined arms live fire event in the 18th Airborne Corps and 82nd Airborne Division. Awarded the Army Commendation Medal for outstanding achievement in planning this event.

- COMMUNICATIONS: Routinely communicate with agencies outside of the Brigade in order to support Brigade events. Highly proficient in written and spoken communication. Routinely synchronize major-muscle-movements between organizations who rarely or never work alongside each other. Personal diplomacy and negotiations are key to successes.

- INTEROPERABILITY: Integrate partner nation forces into home station training; integrate 82nd Airborne Division units into training with overseas partner nation forces. Developed a plan to deploy 45 US Paratroopers to Kenya for joint training with the British Army. Developed and executed a plan to move, sustain, and integrate 180 British Paratroopers into 45 days of joint training events at Fort Bragg and Fort Polk. Also served as the Brigade’s liaison to Airborne units from Italy and the Army National Guard.

Company Executive Officer August 2013 – April 2014

3rd Infantry Division Fort Stewart, GA (FSGA)

Responsible for logistics and sustainment operations for a Mechanized Infantry Company. Charged with the Operational Readiness of 19 combat vehicles and assigned equipment in excess of 48 million dollars. Second-in-Command of 132 personnel.

- LOGISTICS: Managed the post-deployment re-set maintenance of 19 combat vehicles and all assigned small arms, optics, radios, and night-vision devices. Created and enforced a maintenance schedule that returned all equipment to fully-mission capable faster than any other company in the battalion.

- ADMINISTRATION: Developed a plan for the transfer of over 150 serialized items during property book reorganization. Accountability of all property was maintained during all transfers and all transfers were executed ahead of deadline.

- LEADERSHIP: Implemented a physical fitness plan that allowed the Headquarters Platoon (a group of cast-offs from the Infantry platoons) to win the company’s annual Aztec Challenge fitness event. Overall, created a workplace environment that boosted morale and increased productivity in all specialty shops.

Battalion S1 and Adjutant March 2013 – August 2013

3rd ID, FSGA and Afghanistan

Manager of all administrative and personnel functions for over 1,450 employees, including promotions, evaluations, payroll, and legal actions. Selected ahead of peers to improve an underperforming staff section; served as a Lieutenant in a Captain’s position

- ADMINSTRATION: Serviced over 1,450 employees in 37 different locations across 2 continents, separated by 8 time zones while utilizing multiple communications platforms and tracking systems with 100% accuracy.

- EVENTS: Planned the unit’s post-deployment Homecoming formal ball which was attended by over 600 soldiers and spouses, including VIP leaders from the Group and Brigade levels of the organization. Responsible for contracting the venue, décor, and miscellanea services; securing a VIP speaker; sales and distribution of tickets; and creation of the formal program’s script and content.

- DIPLOMACY: Trusted as the principle advisor to the Commander on all personnel matters. While deployed, chosen over peers and superiors to escort the body of a fallen soldier back stateside, rendering honors and interacting with senior leaders at every stop until the final resting place; a high-visibility task and an honored assignment.

Scout Platoon Leader August 2012 – March 2013

3rd ID, FSGA and Afghanistan

Ground Force Commander of over 100 US Soldiers/Civilians and 90 Afghan Local Police patrolmen, advisor to key Local Government, Military, and Security officials, steward of 3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 7 assorted tactical vehicles, and 20 million dollars of assigned combat equipment

- LEADERSHIP: Selected above peers to be the Ground Force Commander of Village Stability Platform (VSP) Saraw while deployed in Afghanistan. Key responsibilities included leading 2 conventional Army Scout squads integrated with half of a US Army Special Forces team, US Naval Special Warfare sailors, civilian contractors and local national interpreters while sustaining 7 ALP checkpoints and over 90 ALP patrolmen. Awarded Bronze Star Medal for exceptionally meritorious service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

- SALES: Conducted regular (over 100) Key Leader Engagements (KLEs) with local government and security officials. KLEs routinely exercised negotiation, mentoring, and personal diplomacy skills. Outputs of KLEs include increased attendance at local city council meetings (shuras), increased retention of ALP patrolmen at their posts, first-ever joint ANA and ALP patrols in the district, and significantly decreased enemy contact throughout the district.

- CONTRACTING: Negotiated and ensured the quality of numerous infrastructure improvement projects in the district, including the building of a jailhouse, the digging of a water reservoir, and routine re-supply and pay for ALP patrolmen. Learned to navigate foreign contracting processes and taught Afghan contractors, policemen, and government officials how to improve their systems.

Platoon Leader December 2011 – August 2012

3rd ID, FSGA

Leader of 40 Soldiers, steward of 4 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and 15 million dollars of combat equipment. Responsible for deployment/movement of over 150 men and associated combat equipment and liaison to the unit’s Family Readiness Group steering committee.

- LEADERSHIP: Assigned to the “trouble” platoon in order to improve it prior to deployment; transitioned to the next Platoon Leader with my top Squad Leader ranked by the Commander as #1 (out of 27) in the Battalion, and all Squad Leaders ranked as #1 #2, and #3 (out of 12) in the company.

- LOGISTICS: Selected and certified as the company’s Unit Movement Officer (UMO); responsible preparing the company’s men, weapons, and equipment to be rail- and line-hauled in support of stateside and overseas deployments. Established the company’s Movement Standard Operating Procedure from scratch and earned a distinguished (highest level) rating during the division-level Marne Inspection Program audit.

- MARKETING and EVENTS: Additionally entrusted as the company’s unit historian and Family Readiness Group (FRG) liaison. Exhibited personal diplomacy responsible for recruiting and retaining new FRG volunteers which was responsible for growing the program and benefitting the organization.

ACADEMIC EDUCATION

United States Military Academy West Point, New York B.S. in Sociology June 2006 – May 2010

MILITARY EDUCATION and CERTIFICATIONS

Sapper Leader’s Course 2008 Infantry Officer’s Basic Course* 2011 Airborne School 2011 Ranger School 2011 Special Forces Assessment and Selection** 2014 Special Operations Forces Captain’s Career Course* 2014 Maneuver Captain’s Career Course* 2015 * Commandant’s List (limited to top 20% of graduating class) ** Selected

FAMILY LIFE

Husband to Kacy Father to Maysn (7) and Selah (infant) Avid marathoner and ultramarathoner Dedicated Sunday School teacher, Youth Sports Coach, and Gymnastics Dad