Doug Swartz serves as the Credentialing / Professional Development Chair for the National Honor Guard Society. He is the Founder and Commanding Officer of the National Honor Guard Academy and has spent more than 40 years as a member, instructor, and leader within the Honor Guard community.

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A native of Ohio, Doug now lives in Redington Beach, Florida, with his wife and daughters. His ceremonial foundation began in the United States Marine Corps, where he served as Battalion Colors Sergeant. That early experience shaped a lifelong commitment to the discipline, precision, and meaning of Honor Guard service.

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Doug later served nearly 20 years in the fire service before retiring to focus full time on teaching, ceremonial service, and honoring those who serve. Shortly after joining Clearwater Fire Rescue in 2001, he established the department’s first Honor Guard, which went on to earn national recognition. Since then, he has helped establish, develop, train, and support Honor Guards across the country.

Doug is deeply involved in Honor Guard ceremonies, funeral response, and line-of-duty-death response planning at both the state and national levels. He serves as Chair of the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Line-of-Duty-Death Committee and leads the State Response Team that assists fire departments following an LODD. He also supports the Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial through his involvement with the Florida Fire Service Honor Guard Association.

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His national service includes roles as a Board Member and Regional Director for the National Honor Guard Commanders Association, Honor Guard Command Staff for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, and member of an advisory committee supporting the development of Department of Justice and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation state response teams and national response planning.

 

As part of the National Honor Guard Society, Doug brings decades of practical experience in ceremonial instruction, command leadership, funeral honors, LODD response, and professional development.