Swearingen, John K.

John K. Swearingen was instrumental in the development of the Certificate in Data Processing (CDP), a program to establish the professional status of data processors. Swearingen continued to be active in this program throughout his presidency with the Data Processing Management Association (DPMA) from 1964 to 1965 and the Computer Foundation Organizing Committee, a group formed by the joint action of the DPMA and the Association for Computing Machinery. The committee purchased the right to administer the CDP exam and the Registered Business Programmer exam, and in 1973 became the Institute for the Certification of Computer Professionals (ICCP), with Swearingen acting as its founding president.

Swearingen's long career in computing included his work with General Electric as manager of Business Information Systems at their Nuclear Energy Division, a position as general manager of the Ling-Temco-Vought computer operation for NASA in Slidell, LA, and his job as general manager for the Environmental Research Corporation. He was also director of Information Services for the United States Senate.