We are sad to announce that on March 17th, 2022, at the age of 74, Samuel Ryan Swah of Germantown, Tennessee, passed away.
He is survived by his wife, Janice Evans Swah and his daughter, Ashleigh Swah McMaster [William Travis], granddaughters Katelyn Elizabeth McMaster and Molly Claire McMaster, and by his brother, Dana Swah [Tamie], and his sister McLynn Swah Kumar [Sam]. He fought a rigorous and valiant fight against a rare type of lymphoma.
Ryan earned a Bachelor’s of Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and went on to receive two master’s degrees. The first, a Master’s in Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering from Princeton University and the second, a Master’s in Aeronautical Systems from The University of West Florida.
Ryan Swah was a retired U.S. Navy Captain with experience in attack, fighter, and transport aircraft. He began his pilot training in the U.S. Navy and initially worked as a pilot for Eastern Airlines for eleven years before joining FedEx Express. As a FedEx Express Captain, he flew the B-727 as a Flight Engineer and First Officer and flew the MD-11/10 as a First Officer and Captain. Captain Swah also held positions as an FAA Aircraft Program Designee, Line Check Airman, Proficiency Check Airman, Standards Check Airman, Aircraft Technical Pilot, Flight Standards Manager and Senior Flight Standards Manager.
After retiring as a pilot, he continued to work for FedEx Express doing work as a Guru of Operations Specifications, Flight Operations Policy, and navigation information. He also did consulting work as the Content Manger of Convergent Performance, LLC and was a Technical Writer for TrainingBoom.
Ryan was a member of the MENSA and Intertel IQ societies. He co-authored and published a book titled Automation Airmanship: Nine Principles for Operating Glass Cockpit Aircraft. Ryan was an avid dog and cat lover, most recently sharing his home with Miniature Schnauzers and Siamese Cats. He was an incomparable professional who always managed to make you feel he was learning from you, and was focused and determined, handling things in a kind, easy going manner. He will be deeply missed.
Captain Swah was a bourbon connoisseur as well, cheers to you, Captain!
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation, at www.clfoundation.org, would be greatly appreciated.
Updated: April 29, 2022
Curator: Ed Moore