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Colonel Olson grew up in Cumberland, RI, in Montreal, Canada and Westlake Village, CA. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant following graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1985. Colonel Olson is a career infantry officer who has commanded rifle platoons, rifle, weapons and headquarters companies and an infantry battalion. He holds a secondary Military Occupational Specialty as an embarkation officer and is a graduate of the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course.
In 1986, he was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, where he served as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Battalion Embarkation Officer, Rifle Company Executive Officer and Rifle Company Commander. He deployed with BLT 2/1 as part of the 13th Marine Amphibious Unit and with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Special Operations Capable (SOC).
In 1989, then-First Lieutenant Olson was assigned to Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., where he served as Ceremonial Platoon Commander, Ceremonial Rifle Company Executive Officer and on both the battalion and parade staffs.
In 1992, then-Captain Olson attended Amphibious Warfare School. Upon graduation in 1993, he was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, where he served as Headquarters and Services Company Commander, Weapons Company Commander and S-3 Operations Officer. While with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, he deployed as part of 26th MEU(SOC) and conducted migrant relief operations in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba with Joint Task Force 160.
Major Olson was assigned to duty as a Faculty Advisor at Amphibious Warfare School in 1996. In 1999, he attended the College of Naval Command and Staff in Newport, Rhode Island.
Upon graduation, he was assigned as the S-3 Operations Officer for 15th MEU(SOC). While with the 15th MEU(SOC), he deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Then-Lieutenant Colonel Olson took command of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines in July 2003; the battalion deployed to Fallujah, Iraq in February, 2004. Upon relinquishing command of 2/1, he was assigned as G-3 Operations Officer for 1st Marine Division.
In 2005, then-Lieutenant Colonel Olson attended the National War College. After graduating, he became the Director for Senate Liaison, Office of Legislative Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps. On June 26, 2008, Olson took command of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Camp Pendleton, California.
Colonel Olson's decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with "V" device; the Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars in lieu of 4th award, the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one silver and one bronze star in lieu of 7th award.
Colonel Olson is married to a Navy Nurse Corps officer.
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