Eric T. Olson

Admiral (Retired) Eric T. Olson has been appointed as Independent Director of Iridium Communications Inc effective December 6, 2011. Admiral Olson retired from active military service in September 2011 and currently is President and Managing Member of ETO Group, LLC, a consulting company of which he is the sole officer. Prior to his military retirement, he served as the commander of the United States Special Operations Command, or USSOCOM, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, which is responsible for ensuring the readiness of joint special operations forces and conducting operations worldwide. Admiral Olson qualified as a Naval Special Warfare officer, or Navy SEAL, in 1974. He served in operational units within every component of the Naval Special Warfare community. Admiral Olson also served as a Navy 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. Admiral Olson commanded SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE, Special Boat Squadron TWO, Naval Special Warfare Development Group and Naval Special Warfare Command. Admiral Olson graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1973 and earned a Master of Arts degree in National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School. He was a Joint Specialty Officer and Political-Military Affairs sub-specialist with emphasis on Africa and the Middle East. Admiral Olson was the first Navy SEAL to be promoted to three-star and four-star rank, and the first Navy officer to command USSOCOM. His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and Silver Star. He was also decorated for service by three foreign governments. Before he retired, he was the “Bull Frog,” an honorary title held by the longest serving Navy SEAL on active duty.