August 29, 2025

By Sid Hall, Military Affairs Coordinator / ROTC Program Manager

NATCHITOCHES – In continuing its tradition of honoring those who serve in the nation’s Armed Forces, Northwestern State University recognized the military service of Lieutenant Colonel Tyrek Swaby as the honorary captain during the football game against Alcorn State University Aug. 28.

LTC Swaby serves at Grambling State University as the professor of Military Science for the Army ROTC programs at Grambling, Louisiana Tech University, Northwestern State and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

He commissioned from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry.  He also holds a Master of Science in organic chemistry from the University of Houston. LTC Swaby later returned to West Point as a chemistry instructor and assistant course director.

An armor officer with over 21 years of military service, his initial assignment was at Fort Hood, Texas, as a Scout Platoon Leader and later Troop Executive Officer for B Troop, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry. Upon completion of the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, LTC Swaby returned to Fort Hood to serve as a Battle Captain, S3 Plans Officer, and Assistant S3 in 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery and 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry. He then commanded B Troop, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry, and moved the unit to Fort Carson, Colorado.

LTC Swaby served as a Future Operations Planner for the 3rd Infantry Division, Battalion Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry, and Battalion Executive Officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, all at Fort Stewart, Georgia.  He then served at U.S. Army Central at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, as a Current Operations Officer, Deputy Chief of Operations and the Executive Officer to the Directorate of Operations, Plans and Training. Most recently, he served at the U.S. Army Joint Modernization Command, Fort Bliss, Texas, as Deputy Chief of Future Operations, Chief of Experimentation Control and Chief of Plans.

LTC Swaby deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (Taji and Baghdad, Iraq), Operation Enduring Freedom (Badghis, Afghanistan), and Operation Freedom Sentinel (Bagram, Afghanistan)

His military education includes the Armor Officer Basic Course, Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, the Command and General Staff College, Cavalry Leader’s Course, Airborne School and the Red Team Member Course.

LTC Swaby’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (5 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Parachutist Badge and the Combat Action Badge. His unit awards include the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Valorous Unit Award (2 Oak Leaf Clusters) and the Meritorious Unit Citation.

LTC Swaby hails from Texas City, Texas.  He was escorted on field by NSU President James Genovese and LTC Joshua Drake, head of NSU’s Department of Military Science.