Huron native Swanbeck named Commanding Officer of USS Montpelier

One of the crowning achievements of a teacher or coach is to be remembered fondly by a former student-athlete.Former Huron standout athlete Brad Swanbeck took care of that on April 18 by inviting two of his former coaches to watch a change of command ceremony in Norfolk, Va.Swanbeck, a 1995 Huron graduate, was named the Commanding Officer of the USS Montpelier (SSN 765) with his former wrestling coaches Chris MacFarland and Larry Balcarcel in attendance.MacFarland was the head coach of the Tiger wrestling program and Balcarcel was his assistant. He's currently entering his eighth season as the head football coach at Norwalk High School."Being Brad's wrestling coach and defensive line coach at Huron was a great thrill," MacFarland said. "We shared some outstanding moments on the mat and the football field. But being included by him after all these years in this great accomplishment for him as an adult is one of my all-time thrills as an educator and coach. This is one of those special moments that educators and coaches cherish and never forget."At Huron, Swanbeck was the Division III state runner-up at 160 pounds as a senior in 1995, a year after he placed fourth in the same weight class in 1994. In football, he was a member of the 1993 Div. IV state runner-up team, and as a senior in the 1994 season was team captain and selected All-Ohio honorable mention as an offensive lineman.Swanbeck graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. He also has his Master's Degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater as well as a certificate in operations analysis from the Naval post-graduate school.Commander Swanbeck's operational assignments include the USS Asheville as a division officer, where he completed deployments to the Western Pacific and Central Command Area of Responsibility. He served as an Engineer Officer on the USS Maryland Gold and completed five strategic deterrent patrols.As Executive Officer on the USS Dallas, Swanbeck completed one deployment to the CCAR.Ashore, Swanbeck served as an anti-submarine tactics instructor and information systems department head at the Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center in San Diego. He was also the assistant Squadron Engineer at Submarine Squadron Fifteen in Guam, operations analyst in OPNAV N81 (Assessments division), and most recently as the Executive Assistant to the Director of Maritime headquarters, U.S. Fleet Forces Command.Swanbeck has served on teams that were awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation twice, and the Battle Efficiency 'E' twice. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service medal (three times), the Navy and Marine Corps commendation medal (three times) and the Navy Achievement medal twice.Swanbeck is the 11th commanding officer of the USS Montpelier since it was commissioned in March 1993. The ship features 15 officers, 17 Chief Petty officers and 112 enlisted men.Chris MacFarland, left, Brad Swanbeck, center, and Larry Balcarcel at the Change of Command ceremony April 18 in Norfolk, Va. Swanbeck was named the Commanding Officer of the USS Montpelier. MacFarland was Swanbeck's head wrestling coach and Balcarcel was his assistant at Huron High School.Brad Swanbeck, left, is congratulated by Chris MacFarland at the Change of Command ceremony April 18 in Norfolk, Va. Swanbeck was named the Commanding Officer of the USS Montpelier. MacFarland was Swanbeck's head wrestling coach at Huron High School.Brad Swanbeck at the Change of Command ceremony April 18 in Norfolk, Va. Swanbeck was named the Commanding Officer of the USS Montpelier.The program noting Brad Swanbeck's Change of Command to Commanding Officer of the USS Montpelier submarine on April 18 in Norfolk, Va.