Primary Job Title Board of Directors Primary Organization TrackingPoint
Gender Male
Admiral Eric Olson retired from active military service in 2011. His last assignment was commanding the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
A native of Tacoma, Washington, Olson holds a master of arts degree in national security affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School. He is a
graduate of the United States Naval Academy, and was qualified as a Naval Special Warfare officer (Navy SEAL).
During his military career, he served in operational units in every component of the Naval Special Warfare community, as a Joint Specialty Officer and Political-Military Affairs sub-specialist with emphasis on Africa and the Middle East. He also served as a SEAL instructor and in senior positions at the Joint Special Operations Command, Navy Staff, and USSOCOM.
His overseas assignments included Israel, Egypt, and Tunisia, and several deployments to contingencies and conflicts. He commanded SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE, Special Boat Squadron TWO, the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, and Naval Special Warfare Command.
Olson’s awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and Silver Star. He was also decorated for service by 3 foreign governments. He was the first Navy SEAL to be promoted to 3-star and 4-star rank, and the first Navy officer to command USSOCOM. Prior to his military retirement, he held the honorary title Bull Frog, in recognition of his being the longest-serving SEAL on active duty.
