Eric Olson
Former Commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, Retired Four-star Navy SEAL Admiral
General Session: Open to all attendees
It goes with out saying that the most respected military units in the world are the special operations forces – Navy SEALS, Army Rangers, Green Berets, specialized aircrews, and other elite commandos. These forces have deployed worldwide to conduct some of the most notably military operations of the last decade, the raid of Osama bin Laden prominent among them. SEAL Team Six has become synonymous with heroism, duty and justice, a group comprised of the best and the bravest and so classified that it technically does not exist. The man responsible for preparing these forces for their broad array of missions was Admiral Eric Olson. Admiral Olson will share lessons learned during his 38 year career – from the early days at the Naval Academy to some of the most recent missions under his command. He offers perspective on our changing world, encouraging looking at it in different ways. Using “The World at Night” he talks about where the challenges facing our nations come from and building, leading and recruiting teams that rise to meet them.
Eric Olson is a retired United States Navy admiral who served as the commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) from 2007–2011. During his tenure as America’s top special operations officer, he was responsible for recruiting, training, equipping, and deploying broadly capable forces worldwide. A senior member of the United States National Defense team, he is often described as one of this century’s great military leaders and credited with developing the specialized forces that have accomplished some of the most notable military operations of the last decade.
Olson was the first three- and then the first four-star Navy SEAL, as well as the first naval officer to be USSOCOM’s combatant commander. He retired from active duty after more than 38 years of service. At the time of his retirement, he was the “Bull Frog,” the longest-serving Navy SEAL on duty. His personal operational experiences were diverse, marked by valor and strong leadership. Olson is also known as a visionary and an action-oriented leader who stayed connected with his forces at all levels. Having developed the best of the best, Admiral Eric Olson addresses building, training, and leading highly effective teams; national security concerns; and our nation’s geopolitical challenges.