Jack Swigert

**John Leonard "Jack" Swigert Jr.** (August 30, 1931 – December 27, 1982) was an American test pilot, mechanical engineer, aerospace engineer, United States Air Force pilot, and NASA astronaut, one of the 24 persons who have flown to the Moon.

Swigert was born in Denver, Colorado. He studied at the University of Colorado Boulder, at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and at University of Hartford.

Before joining NASA in 1966, Swigert was a civilian test pilot and fighter pilot in the Air National Guard. After leaving NASA, he ran for Senate but lost in a primary election against Bill Armstrong. He later ran for the Congress for Colorado's new 6th district. Swigert won the election, but died before being sworn in.

Swigert was diagnosed with nasal cancer while he was running for Congress. At first doctors believed he would survive after treatment, however he was soon diagnosed with bone marrow cancer after having back pain in August 1982. He died on December 27, 1982 in Washington, D.C. from respiratory failure caused by cancer, aged 51.

President Richard Nixon awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Apollo 13 crew shortly after the end of their mission.

In 1995, Swigert was played by Kevin Bacon in Ron Howard's movie _Apollo 13_.

## Other websites

- Official NASA biography
- Astronautix biography of John L. Swigert, Jr.
- Spacefacts biography of John L. Swigert, Jr.
- Swigert at Spaceacts
- Swigert at Encyclopedia of Science
- About Jack Swigert
- _Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections_
- Jack Swigert at the Internet Movie Database
- Swigert at International Space Hall of Fame
- John L. "Jack" Swigert, Jr., Award for Space Exploration
- America Space: Jack Swigert

## Infobox (astronaut)

- **child**: yes
- **nationality**: American
- **occupation**: Fighter pilot, test pilot
- **time**: 5d 22h 54m
- **insignia**:
- **date of ret**: August 1977
- **awards**:


## Infobox (congressman)

- **name**: Jack Swigert
- **image**: Jack Swigert.jpg
- **office**: Member-elect of the
 United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives
 from Colorado's Colorado's 6th congressional district, 6th district
- **term**: ***Died before taking office***
- **predecessor**: _Constituency established_
- **successor**: Daniel Schaefer
- **nationality**: American
- **birth name**: John Leonard Swigert Jr.
- **birth date**: August 30, 1931
- **birth place**: Denver, Colorado, U.S.
- **death place**: Washington D.C., U.S.
- **death cause**: Respiratory failure caused by nasal cancer, nasal and bone marrow cancer
- **restingplace**: Mount Olivet Cemetery (Wheat Ridge), Mount Olivet Cemetery,
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
- **alma mater**: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado,
B.S. 1953
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, M.S. 1965
University of Hartford,
MBA 1967
- **occupation**: Fighter pilot, test pilot
- **party**: United States Republican Party, Republican
- **branch**: United States Air Force, U.S. Air Force (1953–1956)
Massachusetts Air National Guard, MA ANG (1957–1960)
Connecticut Air National Guard, CT ANG (1960–1965)
- **serviceyears**: 1953–1965
- **rank**:  Captain (United States O-3), Captain