Biography

Lieutenant General William H. Swan
Deputy Commandant for Aviation

Lieutenant General Swan assumed the duties of the Deputy Commandant for Aviation on 01 October 2025. Originally from Pewaukee WI, Lieutenant General Swan was commissioned in 1991 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Upon completion of The Basic School, he attended flight training and was designated as an F/A-18 Hornet pilot.

Lieutenant General Swan’s previous assignments as a General Officer include Commanding General, 2D Marine Aircraft Wing, Assistant Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations, Deputy Director for Operations in the Joint Staff J3, Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation, and the Director for Manpower Policy, Manpower and Reserve Affairs.

Lieutenant General Swan’s command assignments include the Commanding General, 2D Marine Aircraft Wing, the Commanding Officer Marine Aircraft Group 11, and the Commanding Officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323.

Lieutenant General Swan’s operating forces assignments include Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 as part of Carrier Air Wing One, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 321, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 as part of Carrier Air Wings Nine and Fourteen, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3D Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and 2D Marine Aircraft Wing. He has participated in Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, BRIGHTSTAR, NOBLE EAGLE, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, TOMADACHI, and NATO exercises in both Scotland and Denmark. Additionally, Lieutenant General Swan has served in both the Joint Staff's J-3 and J-8 and multiple billets across Headquarters Marine Corps.

Lieutenant General Swan is a graduate of the Marine Corps’ Division Tactics Instructor Course, Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, Command and Staff College and the National War College where he earned Masters’ Degrees in both Military Studies from the Marine Corps University and National Security Strategy from the National Defense University. Lieutenant General Swan has flown over 4100 flight hours, made over 600 carrier-arrested landings, and executed over 200 aerial combat missions.

Marine Aviation