Home Index
Brigadier General
David O. Swint Sr.
Permanent Professor 1982–2000
B.S., University of Texas at Austin
M.S., California Institute of Technology
Ph.D., Michigan State University
Dave Swint, the Academy’s 40th Permanent Professor, was born in 1936 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas in 1960 and was commissioned a second lieutenant from AFROTC. He was first assigned in 1961 as a Mechanical Engineer for Base Civil Engineering at March AFB, CA. From 1964 to 1965 he completed a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering prior to taking an assignment as Officer in Charge of Engineering and Construction at Cannon AFB, NM. At Forbes AFB, KS, in 1966, he was assigned to the 554th RED HORSE unit as part of the elite advanced cadre for training 400 personnel as replacements for duty in Southeast Asia. That same year Dave was assigned as Assistant Officer in Charge of Engineering and Construction with the 554th RED HORSE at Phan Rang Air Base, Vietnam. In 1967 Dave’s first USAFA assignment was as an Instructor in the Department of Engineering Mechanics. After completing a PhD at Michigan State University in Structural Engineering, 1969–1972, he returned to USAFA in the Department of Civil Engineering, Engineering Mechanics and Materials. In 1974 he completed Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA, and returned to the Department of Civil Engineering and Mechanics. In 1977 Dave served as the 554th RED HORSE Detachment Commander at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. After completing Air War College at Maxwell AFB, AL, in 1980 he was assigned as Chief of Force Development, HQ Strategic Air Command, Offutt AFB, NE. In 1982 Dave returned to the Academy when he was appointed Permanent Professor and Head, Department of Civil Engineering. In this role, he directed the development of a new core course on air base planning and operability. He also established the 50-acre Field Engineering and Readiness Laboratory, a nationally unique facility to demonstrate hands-on engineering principles to engineering majors. The lab’s construction activities produce housing for Native Americans and integrate cadet education with readiness training and community service. Dave initiated an accredited Environmental Engineering major to meet the increasing demand for Air Force environmental expertise. He developed a US DoD-Russian Environmental Course to prepare senior Russian officers to manage complex environmental programs. Dave was promoted to brigadier general and retired from the USAF in 2000.
Dave became the broker/owner of Swint Realty Company, LLC, in 2001 and continues with his business in Colorado Springs today. He is a Registered Engineer in the State of Colorado. From 2010 to 2011 he served the USAFA Endowment as the Project Manager for the construction of the USAFA Holaday Athletic Center.