On 10 November 2003, Private First Class Swanner, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, reported to Company I, 3d Recruit Training
Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina to earn the title "Marine."
In March 2004, Private First Class Swanner reported to Company D, School of Infantry, Camp Geiger, North Carolina. Graduating in
August 2004 as an 0352, Anti-tank Missile Gunner, Private First Class Swanner reported to Weapons Platoon, Company C, 2d Light
Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force. In November 2004, Lance Corporal Swanner
was meritoriously promoted to Corporal and later deployed as a gunner and vehicle commander in support of OPERATION IRAQI
FREEDOM 04-06.
In January 2006, Corporal Swanner reported to Headquarters Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune,
North Carolina to serve as the Driver for 2d Marine Division Commanding General and Sergeant Major. In November 2006, Corporal
Swanner was promoted to Sergeant and deployed as part of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in support of OPERATION
IRAQI FREEDOM 06-08-02.
Sergeant Swanner reenlisted with a lateral move option to 7051, Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Specialist, and reported to
Marine Corps Detachment, Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas for initial military occupational specialty training. In
October 2008, Sergeant Swanner graduated and reported to Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station New
River, Jacksonville, North Carolina. While assigned to Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron, Sergeant Swanner served as a Rescue
Technician and the Station Color Sergeant. He was meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant in April 2010.
In May 2010, Staff Sergeant Swanner reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California for Recruiters' School. After
graduation, he served as a canvassing recruiter for 12 months at Recruiting Substation Paducah, Kentucky before serving as the
Substation's Staff Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge for the remainder of his tour with Recruiting Station Louisville, Kentucky, 4th
Marine Corps District.
In December 2013, Staff Sergeant Swanner reported to Airfield Operations Company, Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, Marine
Aircraft Group 29, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina where he served as a
Section Leader for the ARFF Division. After a short time in this billet, Staff Sergeant Swanner transferred to Headquarters Company
where he assumed several billets for the squadron to include Operations Chief, Plans and Training Chief, Squadron Gunnery Sergeant,
and Unit Senior Enlisted Leader (i.e., Company First Sergeant). He was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in November 2014.
Gunnery Sergeant Swanner was promoted to First Sergeant in May 2018. He executed orders to Region 7, North and West Africa,
Marine Corps Embassy Security Group where he served as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader until receiving orders to 2d
Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group (MIG), II Marine Expeditionary Force, aboard Camp Lejeune,
North Carolina in May 2021 where he served as the Unit Senior Enlisted Leader for Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Company.
In October 2022, First Sergeant Swanner was selected for promotion to Sergeant Major and received orders to report to 2d Low
Altitude Air Defense Battalion, Marine Air Control Group 28, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry
Point, North Carolina for service as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader in May 2023. Sergeant Major Swanner then received orders
to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, to serve as the Command Senior
Enlisted Leader in July 2024.
In September 2025, Sergeant Major Swanner reported to Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia, Marine Corps Installations -
East, Marine Corps Installations Command, to serve as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for Albany, effective October 2025.
His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with a gold star, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with
four gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device “V”, the Combat Action Ribbon,
and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.
Sergeant Major Swanner has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a specialized focus on Military Resilience and is
pursuing a graduate's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. His long-term goal is to support Marines and other service
members, along with their families, to be ready - physically, mentally, spiritually, socially - regardless of where the battles originate.
He is married to the former Heather Nichole O'Quinn of Charleston, South Carolina. Heather is a compassionate leader and
professional educator, teaching in public and private sectors for nearly two decades. They have been married for 17 years and are the
proud parents of four children: Molly, Charlotte, Xavier, and Owen.