Eric T.

Olson

For the American philosopher, see Eric T. Olson can counter-terrorism unit. Olson was promoted again in
(philosopher). For other people, see Eric Olson (disam- 1999 when he assumed command of Naval Special War-
biguation). fare Command in Coronado, California.
Olson earned a Master of Arts degree in National Secu-
Eric Thor Olson (born January 24, 1952) is a retired rity Aairs at the Naval Postgraduate School and studied
United States Navy admiral who last served as the eighth at the Defense Language Institute. He is a Joint Specialty
Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (US- ocer and Political-Military Aairs sub-specialist with
SOCOM) from July 2, 2007 to August 8, 2011. He pre- emphasis on Africa and the Middle East. His awards in-
viously served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Special Op- clude the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Silver
erations Command from 2003 to July 2007. Olson was Star.
the rst Navy SEAL ever to be appointed to three-star In addition to being the rst three and four star Navy
and four-star ag rank, as well as the rst naval ocer to SEAL, Admiral Olson was the Bull Frog, the longest
be USSOCOMs combatant commander.[1] He took com- serving Navy SEAL still on duty.[5] At four-star ag rank,
mand from Army General Bryan D. Brown in 2007.[1] Olson was the highest-ranking Navy SEAL to hold the
Brown and Olson had served together at the SOCOM Bull Frog title. He was succeeded by Commander Brian
headquarters in Tampa for four years.[1] He retired from Sebenaler and Admiral William McRaven, who had also
active duty on August 22, 2011 after over 38 years of ser- succeeded him as Commander of the United States Spe-
vice. He relinquished command of SOCOM to Admiral cial Operations Command and himself retired in 2014.[6]
William H. McRaven the same day.[2]
Olson was the rst person to ever throw a ceremonial rst
pitch for a post-season game at the new Yankee Stadium
in 2009.
1 Military career
Olson graduated from the United States Naval Academy
in 1973 and qualied as a Naval Special Warfare (SEAL) 2 Awards and decorations
ocer 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 3 Image gallery
Squadron, and at the Naval Special Warfare Development
Group. He has commanded at every level.
Olson has participated in several conicts and contin-
gency operations, and has served as a SEAL instructor,
strategy and tactics development ocer and joint spe-
cial operations sta ocer. His overseas assignments in-
clude service as a United Nations military observer in Is-
rael and Egypt, and as Navy Programs ocer in Tunisia.
He served on the Navy sta as assistant deputy chief of Vice Admiral Eric T. Olson,
Naval Operations (Plans, Policy, and Operations). The Deputy Commander, U.S. Special Operations
commander in charge of all Navy SEALs during Desert Command, in Service Dress Blues.
Storm, Ray Smith, hand picked Olson to be on his sta.
In 1993, Olson participated in the Battle of Mogadishu,
he was later awarded the Silver Star for his actions which
was cited as "... during combat actions in Mogadishu,
Somalia, in October 1993. while under withering en-
emy re during actions in support of UNOSOM II opera-
tions, Captain Olson demonstrated a complete disregard
for his own personal safety in the accomplishment of his Greeting Vice President
mission.[3][4] In 1994, Olson became commander of the Dick Cheney.
Naval Special Warfare Development Group, an Ameri-

1
2 6 EXTERNAL LINKS

Presenting the Armys

Distinguished Service Cross to Master Sergeant
O'Connor in 2008.

USSOCOM Change of
Command where Admiral Olson took command
from General Brown.

Admiral Eric T. Olson

salutes Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry at a cere-
mony at The Pentagon.

4 See also

5 References
[1] http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,
135457,00.html

[2] Michael Mullen (August 22, 2011). Retirement Cere-

mony for Adm Eric T. Olson, U.S. Special Operations
Command. Archived from the original on November 15,
2011. Retrieved September 11, 2012.

[3] SOF Transformer, Special Operations Technology, 2 (4),

July 13, 2004, archived from the original ( Scholar search ) on
October 19, 2006

[4] Valor Awards for Eric Thor Olson. Military Times. Re-
trieved August 22, 2012.

[5] Face of Defense: Longest-serving Navy SEAL Retires.

United States Department of Defense. September 29,
2009. Archived from the original on March 1, 2010.

[6] Longest Serving Navy SEAL Passes on Legacy Title.

United States Navy. August 26, 2011.

6 External links
Media related to Eric Olson at Wikimedia Commons
 3

7 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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Eric T. Olson Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_T._Olson?oldid=762940967 Contributors: HaeB, Btphelps, Klemen Kocjancic,
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