[1] Swan was born on 10 December 1963 in Washington, D.C.[citation needed] He holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, a Master of Arts from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Arts in National Security Studies from the US National War College, where he was a 2005 distinguished graduate.

[2] Prior to assuming his role with the United Nations in Somalia, Swan had a nearly three-decade career with the US Foreign Service.

[citation needed] In his bilateral diplomatic career, Swan held positions related to Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

These include US Special Representative for Somalia (2011-2013), Ambassador to Djibouti (2008-2011), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East and Central Africa (2006-2008), Africa Director in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (2005-2006), and Political Officer in the Office of the Special Envoy for Somalia (1994-1996).

Osman was critically wounded in the attack and succumbed to his injuries a week later, on 1 August 2019, after having been transported to and hospitalised in Doha, Qatar.