Eric T. Olson
Eric Thor Olson | |
|---|---|
 Admiral Eric T. Olson, USN Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1973 - present |
| Rank |  Admiral |
| Commands | 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 | Navy Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit Bronze Star (w/Combat V) |
Admiral Eric Thor Olson, USN, (born January 24, 1952) is the eighth and current Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). He previously served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command from 2003 to July 2007. Olson is the first Navy SEAL ever to be appointed to the grade of a three-star and four-star admiral as well as the first naval officer to be USSOCOM's combatant commander. He assumed his current assignment on July 9, 2007.
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] As a four-star admiral, Olson is the highest-ranking Navy SEAL to hold the Bull Frog title.[2]
Achievements
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Image gallery
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Vice Admiral Eric Olson, Deputy Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, in Navy service blues.
See also
References
- ^ "SOF Transformer" (– Scholar search), Special Operations Technology, 2 (4), July 13
{{citation}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help); External link in|format= - ^ a b Face of Defense: Longest-serving Navy SEAL Retires Defense.gov
External links
Media related to Eric Olson at Wikimedia Commons
- United States Navy admirals
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal
- United States Naval Academy alumni
- United States Navy SEALs
- United States Naval Special Warfare Command
- People from Tacoma, Washington
- Living people
- 1950 births
- Defense Language Institute alumni