Scott H. Swift
{{Short description|American Admiral}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Scott H. Swift
| image = Admiral Scott H. Swift, USN.jpg
| caption = Admiral Scott H. Swift in May 2015
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|12|1}}
| birth_place = Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| placeofburial =
| allegiance = United States
| branch = United States Navy
| serviceyears = 1979 – 2018
| unit =
| commands = United States Pacific Fleet
Director of Navy Staff
United States Seventh Fleet
Deputy Commander, Naval Forces; U.S. Central Command
Director of Operations U.S. Pacific Command
Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14)
VFA-97 Warhawks
VFA-122 Flying Eagles
| battles = Operation Praying Mantis
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
| awards = Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (3)
Bronze Star Medal
| alma_mater = San Diego State University
Naval War College (MA){{Cite web|url=https://www.usni.org/admiral-scott-swift-usn-ret|title=Admiral Scott Swift, USN (Ret.) | U.S. Naval Institute}}
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}
Scott Harbison Swift (born December 1, 1957{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}) is a retired admiral in the United States Navy, serving as the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet from May 27, 2015 to May 17, 2018. He previously served as the director of Navy Staff in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations.{{cite web|url=http://www.stripes.com/promotions/2.1066/vice-adm-swift-nominated-to-take-over-pacific-fleet-1.315244|title=Vice Adm. Swift nominated to take over Pacific Fleet|work=Stars and Stripes}}
Naval career
Swift attended San Diego State University and received his commission in 1979 through the Aviation Reserve Officer Candidate (AVROC) program. He received his master's degree from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
His operational assignments included Attack Squadron 94 (VA-94); Attack Squadron 97 (VA-97); Attack Squadron 122 (VA-122); Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11) staff; commanding officer, Strike Fighter Squadron 97 (VFA-97); commanding officer, Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122); commander, Carrier Air Wing 14; deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet; commander, Carrier Strike Group 9; and commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. During those tours, he participated in combat Operations Praying Mantis, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. He became director of the Navy Staff in September 2013.
His shore tour assignments included the Naval War College; commanding officer, Strike Fighter Weapons School, Pacific; F/A-18 requirements officer on the OPNAV staff; Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics staff; and director of operations, U.S. Pacific Command.
Swift has been recognized as the Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet landing signal officer of the Year, and was presented the Commander Michael G. Hoff Award as the U.S. Pacific Fleet attack aviator of the year.{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=366|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612234804/https://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=366|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 12, 2007|title=Navy.mil Leadership Biographies|author=Dan Petty|publisher=}}
He was nominated for promotion to admiral on November 20, 2014 to assume the command of the United States Pacific Fleet and was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 11, 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/one_item_and_teasers/noms_confn.htm|title=U.S. Senate: Nominations Confirmed (Non-civilian)|date=8 June 2015|publisher=}} He took over from Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr. in a ceremony on May 27, 2015.
In December 2015, Swift warned of a possible South China Sea arms race increase.[https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-navy-commander-warns-of-possible-south-china-sea-arms-race/ar-BBnyNSX?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=iehp U.S. Navy commander warns of possible South China Sea arms race] 15 December 2015 MSN
On March 1, 2017, Swift received the Gray Eagle Award as the Naval Aviator on continuous active duty in U.S. Navy or Marine Corps who has held that designation for the longest period of time.{{cite web |url=https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=99238 |title=US Pacific Fleet Commander Soars as New Gray Eagle |website=www.navy.mil |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522053851/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=99238 |archive-date=2017-05-22}}
During the July 2017 Exercise Talisman Saber, an audience member at Australian National University asked Swift if he would carry out any order from President Donald Trump to launch a nuclear strike on China, to which Swift replied yes.{{cite news|last1=Ramzy|first1=Austin|title=What if Trump Ordered a Nuclear Strike on China? I'd Comply, Says Admiral|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/world/asia/us-admiral-nuclear-strike-china-trump-order.html|accessdate=29 July 2017|work=The New York Times|date=28 July 2017|page=A8}}
On September 25, 2017, Swift announced that he would retire after he was notified by then-Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. John Richardson, that Swift would not be nominated to take over leadership of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, the inter-branch theater command for the Pacific region. Swift is among several flag officers to be removed or announce an early retirement following deadly accidents involving Navy vessels {{USS|John S. McCain|DDG-56|6}} and {{USS|Fitzgerald}} in the Pacific Fleet in 2017.{{cite news|last1=Kube|first1=Courtney|last2=Stelloh|first2=Tim|title=Pacific Fleet Commander to Retire in Wake of Deadly Crashes|url=
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/pacific-fleet-commander-retire-wake-deadly-crashes-n804701|accessdate=September 25, 2017|work=NBC News|date=September 25, 2017}}
Admiral Swift was relieved by Admiral John C. Aquilino and officially retired from the Navy on May 17, 2018.[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-navy-asia/u-s-navy-pacific-commander-misses-promotion-retiring-after-collisions-idUSKCN1C102W U.S. Navy Pacific commander misses promotion, retiring after collisions] Retrieved 19th May, 2018[http://www.cpf.navy.mil/news.aspx/110512 U.S. Pacific Fleet conducts change of command] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727140727/http://www.cpf.navy.mil/news.aspx/110512 |date=2018-07-27 }} Retrieved 19th May, 2018
Awards and decorations
| 180px Naval Aviator insignia |
| 50px Command at Sea insignia |
| 100px Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=80}}18px18px
|Navy Distinguished Service Medal with two gold award stars |
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|Defense Superior Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=80}}18px18px
|Legion of Merit with 2 gold award stars |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}18px18px18px
|Meritorious Service Medal with 3 award stars |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}18px16px
|Air Medal with Combat V and bronze Strike/Flight numeral "2" |
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with award star |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg|width=80}}18px18px18px
|Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three award stars |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=80}}14px14px14px
|Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with three service stars |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Battle Effectiveness Award ribbon, 3rd award.svg|width=80}}
|Navy "E" Ribbon with three Battle E devices |
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|National Defense Service Medal with service star |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}14px14px14px
|Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with three service stars |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Humanitarian_Service_ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=80}}14px14px14px
|Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with seven service stars |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| 80px |
| 80px |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-military}}
{{s-bef|before=Harry B. Harris Jr.}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet|years=2015–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=John C. Aquilino}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swift, Scott H.}}
Category:Recipients of the Air Medal
Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Category:San Diego State University alumni
Category:United States Navy admirals
Category:United States Naval Academy alumni
Category:United States Naval Aviators
Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)