Eric T. Olson

Eric Thor Olson
Eric Thor Olson
	; Admiral Eric T. Olson, USN; Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command
Born	January 24, 1952 (age 60); Tacoma, Washington
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1973–2011
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	United States Special Operations Command; Deputy, United States Special Operations Command; Naval Special Warfare Command; Naval Special Warfare Development Group
Battles/wars	Battle of Mogadishu
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star; Defense Superior Service Medal (2); Legion of Merit; Bronze Star (w/Combat V)

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For other people of the same name, see Eric Olson (disambiguation).

Eric Thor Olson (born January 24, 1952) is a retired United States Navy admiral who last served as the eighth Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) from July 2, 2007 to August 8, 2011. He previously served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command from 2003 to July 2007. Olson was the first Navy SEAL ever to be appointed to three-star and four-star flag rank, as well as the first naval officer to be USSOCOM's combatant commander. He retired from active duty after over 38 years of service.

[edit] Military career

Olson graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1973 and qualified as a Naval Special Warfare (SEAL) officer in 1974. He graduated in BUD/S Class 76. He has served operationally in an Underwater Demolition Team, SEAL Team, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team, Special Boat Squadron, and at the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He has commanded at every level.

Olson has participated in several conflicts and contingency operations, and has served as a SEAL instructor, strategy and tactics development officer and joint special operations staff officer. His overseas assignments include service as a United Nations military observer in Israel and Egypt, and as Navy Programs officer in Tunisia. He served on the Navy staff as assistant deputy chief of Naval Operations (Plans, Policy, and Operations). In 1993, Olson participated in the Battle of Mogadishu.^[1] In 1994, Olson became commander of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, an American counter-terrorism unit. Olson was promoted again in 1999 when he assumed command of Naval Special Warfare Command in Coronado, California.

Olson earned a Master of Arts degree in National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School and studied at the Defense Language Institute. He is a Joint Specialty officer and Political-Military Affairs sub-specialist with emphasis on Africa and the Middle East. His awards include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Silver Star.

In addition to being the first three and four star Navy SEAL, Admiral Olson is currently the Bull Frog, the longest serving Navy SEAL still on duty.^[2] At four-star flag rank, Olson is the highest-ranking Navy SEAL to hold the Bull Frog title.^[2]

Olson was the first person to ever throw a ceremonial first pitch for a post-season game at the new Yankee Stadium in 2009.

[edit] Awards and decorations

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal
	Navy Distinguished Service Medal
	Silver Star
	Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Legion of Merit
	Bronze Star with valor device
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Meritorious Service Medal with two gold award stars
	Joint Service Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
	Combat Action Ribbon with gold award star
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Navy Unit Commendation with bronze service star
	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars
	National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze service star
	Vietnam Service Medal with bronze service star
	Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Armed Forces Service Medal
	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two bronze service stars
	Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with two bronze service stars
	Special Operations Service Ribbon
	United Nations Medal
	Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (3rd class)^[3]^[4]
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
	Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
	Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

[edit] Image gallery

Admiral Eric Olson, Vice-Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, in Navy service blues.

[edit] See also

	Biography portal
	United States Navy portal

[edit] References

^ "SOF Transformer" (– ^{Scholar search}), Special Operations Technology 2 (4), July 13, http://www.special-operations-technology.com/article.cfm?DocID=531 ^{[dead link]}
^ ^a ^b Face of Defense: Longest-serving Navy SEAL Retires Defense.gov
^ Monitor Polski 2011 nr 78 poz. 773 (point 8.)
^ Order Zasługi RP dla Admirała Erica Olsona

[edit] External links

Media related to Eric Olson at Wikimedia Commons

[0] "SOF Transformer" (– ^{Scholar search}), Special Operations Technology 2 (4), July 13, http://www.special-operations-technology.com/article.cfm?DocID=531 ^{[dead link]}

[bull_frog-1] Face of Defense: Longest-serving Navy SEAL Retires Defense.gov

[2] Monitor Polski 2011 nr 78 poz. 773 (point 8.)

[3] Order Zasługi RP dla Admirała Erica Olsona

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Persondata
Name	Olson, Eric T.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	January 24, 1952
Place of birth	Tacoma, Washington
Date of death
Place of death

Eric T. Olson

Contents

[edit] Military career

[edit] Awards and decorations

[edit] Image gallery

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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Eric Thor Olson
Admiral Eric T. Olson, USN Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command
Born	January 24, 1952 (1952-01-24) (age 60) Tacoma, Washington
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1973–2011
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	United States Special Operations Command Deputy, United States Special Operations Command Naval Special Warfare Command Naval Special Warfare Development Group
Battles/wars	Battle of Mogadishu
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit Bronze Star (w/Combat V)