Nomination of Orson G. Swindle III To Be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce

The President today announced his intention to nominate Orson G. Swindle III to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce (Economic Development Administration). He would succeed J. Bonnie Newman.

Since June 1981 Mr. Swindle has been serving as Georgia State Director of the Farmers Home Administration within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps in 1959 and became a fighter pilot, flying over 200 missions in Southeast Asia. He was captured in North Vietnam in November 1966, where he was held prisoner for over 6 years. He was repatriated in March 1973. He was a financial manager for the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, GA, in 1975-1979. In 1979 he retired from the Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He has over 20 personal decorations for valor, including two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, two Legions of Merit, two Purple Hearts, 13 Air Medals, and the Navy Commendation Medal.

Mr. Swindle graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology (B.S., 1959) and Florida State University (M.B.A., 1975). He is married, has one child, and resides in Camilia, GA. He was born March 8, 1937, in Thomasville, GA.