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| Information > Biographies > MAJOR GENERAL SAMUEL H. SWART JR. |
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MAJOR GENERAL SAMUEL H. SWART JR.
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Retired Sep. 1, 1989.
Major General Samuel H. Swart Jr., is chief of staff, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, Naples, Italy.
General Swart was born in 1934, in Charlottesville, Va. He graduated from Notre Dame High School, West Haven, Conn., in 1953. After one year at the University of Virginia School of Engineering, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in 1958. The general earned a master of science degree in systems management from the University of Southern California in 1974. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1966, Air Command and Staff College in 1970, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1976.
After completing pilot training at Webb Air Force Base, Texas, in July 1959, General Swart attended all-weather interceptor school, flying F-86L's, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. In June 1960 he was assigned to the 11th Bombardment Wing, Altus Air Force Base, Okla., first as a B-52 pilot, then as an aircraft commander. He also served in the Standardization and Evaluation Division and on the wing staff.
In February 1964 General Swart transferred to the 47th Air Division, Castle Air Force Base, Calif., where he served as an operations staff officer and as aide to the commander. In June 1965 he was assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., where he flew U-3s, T-33s and U-2s. He became an operations staff officer in the Operations and Training Division at Headquarters 15th Air Force, March Air Force Base, Calif., in October 1967.
After graduating from Air Command and Staff College in June 1970, the general was assigned to the l0th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. In February 1971 he transferred to the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where he flew RF-4s while serving as chief of the Reconnaissance Standardization and Evaluation Division. During this tour of duty he flew 198 combat missions, including 100 over North Vietnam.
In March 1972 General Swart was assigned to the Directorate of Plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington D.C., as an action officer and later as chief of the Command Plans Branch, Office of the Deputy Director for Force Development. After completing the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in July 1976, the general transferred to Plattsburgh Air Force Base, N.Y., as deputy commander for operations, 380th Bombardment Wing. He became vice commander of the wing in April 1978.
General Swart served at Pease Air Force Base, N.H., as commander of the 509th Bombardment Wing from March 1979 to June 1981. He then returned to Air Force headquarters as deputy director for operational support, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations. In December 1982 he transferred to Minot Air Force Base, N.D., as commander of the 57th Air Division. From November 1985 to November 1986 he served as vice commander of Strategic Air Command's 8th Air Force, with headquarters at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. He then became director of operations, J-3, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. He assumed his present position in April 1988.
The general is a command pilot with more than 6,000 flying hours, including 400 hours of combat flying. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and oak leaf cluster, Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster, Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
He was promoted to major general July 1, 1985, with date of rank Sept. 10, 1981.
(Current as of August 1988)
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