JR Swanson
J.D. Candidate | Military Intelligence Officer

JR Swanson is a J.D. Candidate at the University of Minnesota Law School and a Military Intelligence Officer with the Minnesota Army National Guard.

Before law school, JR spent six years at the Minnesota House of Representatives, most recently as a Research Consultant focused on Human Services Finance and Policy. His work spanned legislative analysis, budget negotiations, and policy development across the state's health and human services systems. He also staffed the Public Safety Finance and Policy, Legacy Finance, and Veterans and Military Affairs committees. Before his tenure in research, he served as a legislative assistant for the Deputy Minority Leader.

His background in national security and civil liberties informs his approach to law. He previously worked at the ACLU of Minnesota and contributed to international security policy research at the Stimson Center in Washington, D.C., including work presented at the 2019 Doha Forum in Qatar.

JR holds a Master of Public Policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Minnesota Duluth. He was commissioned as an Army officer through Officer Candidate School and subsequently completed the Military Intelligence Basic Officer Leaders Course, graduating on the Commandant's List.