Gerald A. Swift is the Director for AIRWorks, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Naval Air Systems Command, NAS Patuxent River, MD.  He leads a diverse $500 million aircraft modification portfolio and oversees a $650 million annual non-Navy workload acceptance portfolio for the Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD).  In addition, the Office runs high-visibility special projects for ASN(RDA) and NAVAIR for rapid fielding to meet urgent warfighter needs.

Prior to joining AIRWorks, Mr. Swift was the Deputy Director for Rapid Response in the Airworthiness Office (AIR-4.0P) for the Commander of Naval Air Systems Command responding to urgent warfighting needs and high priority efforts.  As Deputy Director, he supported over 4,000 flight clearance activities annually covering all manned and unmanned air systems for the US Navy and Marine Corps.

Before entering government civil service with the US Navy, Mr. Swift served twenty-five years in the US Air Force, retiring as a Colonel.  He served in acquisition management, staff, flight test, and engineering assignments throughout his career.  He is a senior acquisition professional and a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps.

Mr. Swift began his career in the US Air Force with engineering assignments at the Wright Research and Development Center and the Air Force SEEK EAGLE Office.  After graduating from the USAF Test Pilot School, he ran multiple weapons testing programs for both the 40th (F-15, F-111) and 39th (F-16, A-10) Flight Test Squadrons at Eglin AFB, FL.  He then managed all verification and test activities for the Joint AIM-9X Air-to-Air Missile Program (PMA-259), successfully transitioning the missile from development through Low Rate Initial Production.  After serving as the Chief of the Financial Management Branch for the Global Power Directorate on the Air Staff, Mr. Swift commanded the 413th Flight Test Squadron responsible for electronic warfare testing at the Air Force Flight Test Center, CA.  He then served as the verification and airworthiness lead in the Joint Strike Fighter Joint Program Office participating on the team taking the F-35 to a successful first flight.  After completing the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Mr. Swift was the Director of Special Activities for the Missile Defense Agency providing classified program management, rapid capability development and operational support to the Ballistic Missile Defense System.  In his final assignment in the Air Force, Mr. Swift was the Chief of the F-15 Eagle Division, Aerospace Sustainment Directorate, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins AFB, GA.  He provided program management, integrated logistics support, and engineering for over 1,000 F-15 fighter aircraft for units of the combat Air Forces of the United States, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and South Korea.  In addition, he oversaw the stand-up and execution of the largest foreign military sales program in the history of the United States, the $29.4 billion Saudi Arabia F-15SA Fleet Modernization Program.

Mr. Swift was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program in 1987 and graduated with distinction from the University of Kansas in Aerospace Engineering.  He was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Institute of Technology receiving a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering.  After earning a master’s degree in Military Operational Art and Science from Air University midway through his career, he was a distinguished graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces earning a master’s degree in National Resource Strategy in 2008.