Swicker Joins Vicksburg

Swicker graduated from Dartmouth College in 1977, and then went to sea for five years in large ocean-going sailing ships, including the schooners Victory Chimes and Harvey Gamage, clipper schooner Pride of Baltimore, and Research Vessel Westward.

Since receiving his commission from Officer Candidate School in 1982, he has served as Electrical Officer and Navigator in USS Scott (DDG 995), Fire Control Officer and Battery Control Officer in USS Virginia (CGN 38), Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer in USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), Executive Officer in USS Monterey (CG 61), and Commanding Officer, USS John S. McCain (DDG 56).

Swicker received a Master's Degree in Scientific and Technical Intelligence from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1990, where his classified thesis won the United States Naval Institute Award and was used operationally during Desert Storm.

A Distinguished Graduate of the Naval War College, he is also a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College, and completed a Joint Duty tour as the SM-3 Missile Program Integrator at the Missile Defense Agency in Washington, D.C.

Most recently, he was director of the Command at Sea Department at the Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport, R.I., from September 2003 to November 2005.

During his time in command, Shannon completed a highly successful seven month deployment assigned as air defense commander for Commander, Carrier Strike Group Six in support of Operations Iraqi/Endur-ing Freedom.

Shannon then led Vicksburg through a very successful Unit Level Phase Training cycle which ultimately made Vicksburg ready for any short notice tasking. This meticulous preparation and planning has brought Vicksburg to its current state of superb readiness for the current surge mission to the Horn of Africa region.

His next stop will be at the Pacific Desk at the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C.