National Honor Guard AcademyHONOR - DIGNITY - RESPECT
Doug Swartz
Doug Swartz
Founder and Commanding Officer
dswartz@nationalhonorguardacademy.com
Instructor Swartz is the Founder and Commanding Officer of the National Honor Guard Academy. He lives in Seminole, Florida, with his wife and two daughters.
Doug is currently a Training Lieutenant with Clearwater Fire & Rescue where he has worked since 2001. He has been in the fire service since 1997 and also works part-time as a Flight Paramedic with the local trauma helicopter service, Bayflite. Doug established his department’s first Honor Guard shortly after joining Clearwater and it has quickly gained national recognition.
He is currently the Honor Guard Coordinator for Clearwater and is involved at the State and National level with both Honor Guard and Line of Duty Death (LODD) Response Planning. Doug is the Chair for the Florida Fire Chiefs LODD Committee and leads the State Response Team to assist departments with handling an LODD. Other notable affiliations include: Board Member/Regional Director for the National Honor Guard Commanders Association, Honor Guard Command Staff for the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Weekend, Member of Advisory Committee formed for the development of the DOJ/NFFF State Response Teams and National Response Plan, and assists with the Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial through his membership in the Florida Fire Service Honor Guard Association.
Doug has been involved as a member or instructor of Honor Guards for over 20 years. Getting his start in the United States Marine Corps, where he ascended to serve as Battalion Colors Sergeant, Doug never lost the passion for what the honor guard stands for and continues to share it with dedicated individuals across the country.
