Eric T. Olson
Eric Thor Olson ( born January 24, 1952 in Tacoma, Washington ) is an admiral in the U.S. Navy and was on 9 July 2007 to 2011 commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command ( USSOCOM).
Military career
Olson graduated 1973, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, from. He then became an Officer Special Warfare ( Naval Special Warfare officer ) and is served in a combat team of divers ( Underwater Demolition Team ), a SEAL team, a SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team, a Special Boat Squadron and the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He also served as a SEAL instructor, strategy and tactics development officer and as JSOC staff officer. His international assignments include the activities as a UN military observer in Israel and Egypt, as well as naval liaison officer in Tunisia.
In October 1993, Olson was employed in a leadership position during the house to house fighting in the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia. After two MH -60 " Blackhawks " was crashed by enemy fire, Olson helped organize the rescue operation and then led a rescue team to one of the crash sites. This night mission became known as the Mogadishu Mile, in terms of distance, which had to cover the rescue team to recover the wounded. Olson was awarded the Silver Star for that.
Olson has commanded at every level of command subordinates, the platoon leader of a SEAL platoon to commander in the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command. He also served as an assistant in the office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for planning, strategy and operations. From 1994 to 1997 he commanded the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group, formerly the secret anti-terrorist commando SEAL Team Six. In 1999 he took over the post of highest SEALs themselves, namely the command of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command in Coronado, California.
From August 2003 to July 2007 Olson was the deputy commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command ( USSOCOM). On May 10, 2007 U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates nominated him as successor to General Bryan D. Brown, and thus as commander of USSOCOM. After nomination by the Armed Services Committee of the U.S. Senate confirmed Olson took over on July 9, 2007, the command of General Brown. He is the first U.S. Navy SEAL, who reached the rank of admiral and also the first naval officer who commanded the USSOCOM.
Others
He has a Master of Arts in National Security Relations of the Naval Postgraduate School. He is married and has two children.
Awards
Selection of decorations, sorted on the basis of the Order of Precedence of Military Awards:
- Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Navy Distinguished Service Medal
- Silver Star
- Defense Superior Service Medal (2 × )
- Legion of Merit
- Bronze Star
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 × )
- Meritorious Service Medal (3 × )
- Joint Service Commendation Medal (2 × )
- Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal
- National Defense Service Medal (3 × )
- Vietnam Service Medal (2 × )
- Southwest Asia Service Medal (3 × )
- Armed Forces Service Medal