Deputy to the Commander

Selected as the Commander’s Deputy in December 2007, Mr. Olson provides the continuity for depot management as the principal Civilian Assistant to the Commander. Recently retired as an Army Colonel after more than 26 years of service to our nation, Mr. Olson relocated to Sierra in 2006, to continue his service to soldiers.

Mr. Olson was born in Pocatello, Idaho, and traveled the world with his family as an Army dependant. Graduating in 1979 as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Trinity University, in San Antonio, Texas, Mr. Olson received a commission as a second Lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps. His military education includes: Ordnance Officer Basic and Advanced Courses; Combined Arms Services Staff School; Command and General Staff College; Joint Professional Military Education; and the Army’s War College, where he earned his Masters of International Strategic Studies Degree.

Mr. Olson’s previous command assignments included: Executive Officer and Operations Officer, 162nd Ordnance Company, Sogel Germany; Operations Officer, Sierra Army Depot, Herlong, CA; Commander, 78th Ordnance Detachment, Kunsan AFB, Korea; Ammunition Officer, Combined Field Army, Camp Red Cloud, Korea; Commander, Seneca Army Depot, Romulus, NY; Commander, Watervliet Arsenal, Watervliet, NY; and Commander, TACOM Forward Repair Activity – Southwest Asia – with deployments to Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Other key staff positions held included: Chief, Nuclear Division, HQ Training and Doctrine Command, Ft. Monroe, VA; Operations Branch Chief, Stockpile Control Division, Field Command Defense Nuclear Agency; Ammunition Logistics Staff Officer, Pentagon, Washington DC; and Test Operations Branch Chief, Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

His military awards include; the Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit Medal; Bronze Star Medal; Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards); Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards); Army Commendation Medal (3 awards); Global War on Terrorism – Service and Expeditionary Medals; Korean Defense Service Medal; and a Joint Meritorious Unit Award. His badges include the Parachutist Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge. He was awarded both the Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe, and the Field Artillery’s Honorable Order of Saint Barbara.

Mr. Olson is married and has three children.