Eric T. Olson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Eric Thor Olson | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1973 - present |
| 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 | Navy Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit Bronze Star (w/Combat V) Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (not on the photo)... |
Admiral Eric Thor Olson, USN, (born 1951 or 1952 in Tacoma, Washington[1]) is the 8th and current Commander, United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). ADM Olson is the first Navy SEAL ever to be appointed to the grade of a three-star and four-star admiral as well as first naval officer to be USSOCOM's combatant commander. ADM Olson is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and the Naval Postgraduate School. ADM Olson participated in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993.[2]
Olson graduated from the Naval Academy in 1973 and completed SEAL training in 1974. For the next two decades, he served in a variety of military assignments, many of them overseas, until 1994 when he 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.[1] He assumed his current assignment on 9 July 2007, replacing General Bryan D. Brown, United States Army.[3] which is located in Tampa Florida at McDill.
[edit] Major Awards and decorations
 |
Navy Distinguished Service Medal |
 |
Silver Star |
  |
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster |
 |
Legion of Merit |
  |
Bronze Star with valor device |
[edit] References
- ^ a b Lardner, Richard & Flaherty, Anne (12 June), “Admiral: Bureaucracy hampers terror war”, USA Today, <http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-06-12-3301463368_x.htm>
- ^ “SOF Transformer”, Special Operations Technology 2 (4), 13 July, <http://www.special-operations-technology.com/article.cfm?DocID=531>
- ^ American Forces Press Service (9 July 2007). "Navy Admiral Takes Helm of U.S. Special Ops Command". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-08-05.
 |
This biographical article related to the United States Navy is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
