U.S. Space Force Col. Brett Swigert is the commander of Space Delta 7 – Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. He leads a global enterprise of Guardians and Airmen focused on providing intelligence data to allow for the detection, characterization and targeting of adversary space capabilities while delivering decision-quality, space-centric ISR to joint war-fighters and interagency partners to execute the U.S. National Defense Strategy.
Swigert received his commission through the Brigham Young University Air Force ROTC program in 1996. He has since served as a Signals Intelligence Operations Watch Officer, NSA Branch Chief, Chief of an executive protection team for presidential support, Flight Commander, Commandant of Cadets, Squadron Director of Operations, Deputy Inspector General, Squadron Commander and Deputy Group Commander. Swigert has served within the Joint Staff and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He deployed as the Chief of Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Operations at the Combined Air Operations Center and as an aircrew member on the RC-135V/W RIVET JOINT, flying 53 combat missions during Operations Iraqi & Enduring Freedom. Prior to his current position, Swigert was the Chief of Intelligence Operations with U.S. Space Command at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
1997 Intelligence Operations Officer Course, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas
1998 Cryptologic Skills for Junior Officers, National Cryptologic School, National Security Agency, Maryland
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Master of Public Administration, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2006 Central Flight Instructor Course (CFIC), Offutt AFB, Neb.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
2010 Advanced Analysis Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1997 - April 1997, Wing Plans & Programs, 17th Training Wing, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
2. May 1997 - December 1997, Student, Intelligence Officer Training, 17th Training Wing, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
3. January 1998 - December 1998, Watch Officer, 91st Intelligence Squadron, Fort Meade, Maryland
4. January 1999 - November 1999, OIC, Intel Ops Center/Op ALLIED FORCE, 29th Intelligence Sqdn, Ft Meade, MD
5. December 1999 - May 2001, Chief, Center for Executive Protection, 29th Intelligence Squadron, Fort Meade, MD
6. June 2001 - June 2004, Commandant of Cadets, AFROTC Det 855, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
7. July 2004 - June 2006, Airborne Operations Flight Commander, 97th Intelligence Squadron, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
8. July 2006 - July 2007, Assistant Director of Operations, 97th Intelligence Squadron, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
9. July 2007 - June 2009, Deputy Chief, USAFCENT Reconnaissance Ops Center, 9th Air Force, Shaw AFB, SC
10. July 2009 - June 2010, Student, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
11. July 2010 - July 2012, Director of Operations, 93rd Intelligence Squadron/NSA Texas, Lackland AFB, Texas
12. August 2012 - June 2013, Chief of Inspections, AF ISR Agency Inspector General, Lackland AFB, Texas
13. June 2013 - July 2015, Commander, 566th Intelligence Squadron/NSA-C, Buckley AFB, Colorado
14. August 2015 - June 2017, Deputy Commander, 460th Operations Group, Buckley AFB, Colorado
15. July 2017 - July 2018, Chief, Targeting Automation Branch, The Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
16. July 2018 - March 2019, Chief, Cyber Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Wash. D.C.
17. March 2019 – June 2020, Chief, Intelligence Collection Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Washington D.C.
18. July 2020 – June 2022, Chief, Intelligence Operations Division, U.S. Space Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado
19. June 2022 – Present, Commander, Space Delta 7, Space Operations Command, Peterson SFB, Colorado
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
July 2017 - July 2018, Targeting Branch Chief, The Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
July 2018 - March 2019, Cyber Division Chief, Office of the Under Secretary of Def. for Intelligence, Washington D.C.
March 2019 – June 2020, Collection Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Def. for Intelligence, Washington D.C.
July 2020 – June 2022, Chief, Intelligence Ops Div., U.S. Space Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Aircrew Member (Instructor/Evaluator)
Flight hours: more than 1,000 including more than 500 combat hours
Aircraft: RC-135V/W RIVET JOINT
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Combat Readiness Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Air & Space Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal, for working on the Pentagon’s COVID Task Force
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 HQ AFROTC Regional Company Grade Officer of the Year
2005 General Jerome O’Malley Air Force Reconnaissance Aircrew of the Year
2008 USAF Field Grade Intelligence Officer of the Year
2011 Group ISR Field Grade Officer of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 20 December 1996
First Lieutenant 4 January 1999
Captain 4 January 2001
Major 1 September 2006
Lieutenant Colonel 1 January 2012
Colonel 1 June 2018
(CURRENT AS OF JUNE 2022)