On 10 November 2003, Private First Class Swanner, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, reported to Company I, 3d Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina to earn the title Marine.
In March 2004, Private First Class Swanner reported to Company D, School of Infantry, Camp Geiger, North Carolina. Graduating in August 2004 as an 0352, Anti-tank Missile Gunner, Private First Class Swanner reported to Weapons Platoon, Company C, 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division. In November 2004, Lance Corporal Swanner was meritoriously promoted to Corporal and later deployed as a vehicle commander in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 04-06.
In January 2006, Corporal Swanner reported to Headquarters Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to serve as the Driver for 2d Marine Division Commanding General and Sergeant Major. In November 2006, Corporal Swanner was promoted to Sergeant and deployed as part of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 06-08-02.
Sergeant Swanner reenlisted with a lateral move option to 7051, Expeditionary Fire and Rescue (EFR), and reported to Marine Corps Detachment, Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas for initial military occupational specialty training. In October 2008, Sergeant Swanner graduated and reported to Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station New River, Jacksonville, North Carolina. While assigned to Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron, Sergeant Swanner served as a Rescue Technician and the Station Color Sergeant. He was meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant in April 2010.
In May 2010, Staff Sergeant Swanner reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California for Recruiters' School. After graduation, he served as a canvassing recruiter for 12 months at Recruiting Substation Paducah, Kentucky before serving as the Substation's Staff Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge for the remainder of his tour with Recruiting Station Louisville, Kentucky.
In December 2013, Staff Sergeant Swanner reported to Airfield Operations Company, Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina where he served as a Section Leader for the EFR Division. After a short time in this billet, Staff Sergeant Swanner transferred to Headquarters Company where he assumed several billets for the squadron to include: Operations Chief, Plans and Training Chief, Squadron Gunnery Sergeant, and Company First Sergeant. He was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in November 2014.
Gunnery Sergeant Swanner was promoted to First Sergeant in May 2018 and executed orders to Region 7, North and West Africa, Marine Corps Embassy Security Group where he served as the Region First Sergeant until he received orders to 2d Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group (MIG), Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in May 2021.
In October 2022, First Sergeant Swanner was selected for promotion to Sergeant Major and received orders to report to 2d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, Marine Air Control Group 28, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina for service as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader as of 3 May 2023.
His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with four gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device “V”, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.
Sergeant Major Swanner has a Bachelor of Science degree is Psychology with a specialized focus on Military Resilience, and is pursuing a graduate's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.