Ronald Robert Swafford

Ronald Swafford
1214 Mokapu Blvd
Kailua, HI 96734
ronald.swafford@
(808) 782-1010

Lieutenant Colonel (R) Ronald Robert Swafford (Ron) appointed as Chief of the Environmental Section on December 16, 1991 and retired the same date in 2004. Born in Rockwood, Tennessee, on August 4, 1949. He graduated from Kirkman Technical High School, Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1967 and later attended the University of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Commissioned a second lieutenant through the Tennessee Military Academy (TMA) in 1977. His military education includes Field Artillery Officer Advance Course, 1980, and Command & General Staff College, 1987.

Ron entered the Tennessee Army National Guard in August 1967 as a PVT– E1 (13B), Cannoneer. In July 1973, he became the Chief of Firing Battery (SFC) before going to Officer Candidate School in 1976. Afterwards, he served as a Forward Observer, Fire Direction Officer, Executive Officer, Battalion Maintenance Officer, Battery Commander, and Liaison Officer in the 1st Battalion, 181st Field Artillery. During that same period, he also served as the Communication Platoon Leader and Tactical Intelligence Officer in the 196th Field Artillery Brigade, and a Range Control/Facility Management Officer in the Headquarters State Area Command in the Tennessee Army Guard. In February 1990, LTC Swafford left Tennessee Army National Guard and joined the Hawaii Army National Guard.

He became a full-time technician in July 1991. His various command and staff positions in the Hawaii Guard include tours as the S4, S3, and Executive officer of the 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery; Brigade Material Management Executive officer of the 29th Support Battalion; Executive, and Engineer officers for Headquarters and Headquarter Company of the 29th Separate Infantry Brigade (Enhanced). His current assignment is the Environmental Chief for the Headquarters State Area Command in the Hawaii Army Guard.

His awards and decorations includes the Secretary of Defense’s 2003 Environmental Quality Award for an Individual and the 1999 Natural Resources for a team of a Small Installation, which included the over-all Outstanding Eagle award at the National Guard Bureau for program management. In addition, his program received recognition from the Environmental Protection Agency, and two State of Hawaii agencies for program Excellence in 2000.

Other life time notables include over 300 water wells (1968-1971) and designed and built a Drill Accessory Vehicle that drillers copied and still use in the southeast. Fifteen years of firefighting (1975-1990) in conjunction with six years as the Fire and Police Pension Secretary (1983-1989). Ron is an active member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees local 140 (Jan 1980) and 665 (Jan 1990), which he works as a Site Manager, Job Steward, Master Electrician/Carpenter, Special Effects Technician or Rigger; and Labor Foreman.