Swearingen was a charter member of the Society of Camera Operators, founded in 1978 with the aim of being recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He was elected the SOC's first sergeant at arms and remained in the position for years.
A native of Hollywood, Fla., who served in the U.S. Marine Corps., Swearingen in 1961 was accepted into IATSE Local 659 as a film loader at MGM, and he moved through the ranks to second assistant, first assistant and then operator during his long career. He was active in the union International Cinematographers guild and was sergeant at arms for a number of years.