Dennis Swanson is president and general manager of WNBC in New York, the flagship station of the NBC network, and recently was named co-chairman, NBC Olympics. Swanson, a 40-year veteran of broadcast journalism, joined WNBC on July 8, 1996. Among his many accomplishments since his arrival, Swanson opened doors to the Puerto Rican, West Indian, Italian and Irish communities by broadcasting, for the first time on WNBC, their annual parades. The recipient of numerous journalism honors, including the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award, Swanson has spearheaded numerous special programs on topical issues impacting the tri-state area, such as education and race relations.

Swanson came to WNBC from the ABC Television Network, having served as President of ABC Sports from 1986 to 1996 and ABC Daytime and ABC Children's Programming from 1991 to 1993. Prior to joining ABC Sports, he was president of the ABC-owned television stations from 1985 to 1986. Previously, Swanson was vice president and general manager of WLS-TV, the ABC affiliate in Chicago, where he created the "Oprah Winfrey Show," the most successful daytime talk show in television.

Very active in civic and community affairs, Swanson is chair of the Board of Directors of the Emma Bowen Minority Media Partnership, an organization he helped to form that offers minority students increased access to the broadcast industry. Swanson is also an advisory board member of PENCIL (Public Education Needs Civic Involvement in Learning). His deep commitment to education is evidenced each year by his donation of four hours of free air time for the broadcast of "An Evening of Stars," the major fund raising event of the United Negro College Fund.

In May 1997, Swanson received an Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Sanctioned by Congress, the medal recognizes Americans from all walks of life who have distinguished themselves among their specific ethnic group and made significant contributions to this country. In keeping with this tradition of giving back, Swanson offered significant relief to the victims of Hurricane Georges by making personnel and airtime available for the broadcast of a major fund raising effort to help those in Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Santo Domingo.

Swanson is a graduate of the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana with a M.S. degree in Communications and Political Science and a B.S. degree in Journalism. A native of Wilmar, California, he was a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1961 to 1963. He and his wife, Katherine, have three adult children and seven grandchildren.