Distinguished Speaker Series

Sixth Annual
CSULB Distinguished Speaker Series

ADMIRAL ERIC OLSON

Former Commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command
Retired Four-Star Admiral
Thirty-Eight Year Navy SEAL

SPEAKING ON

THE WORLD AT NIGHT

Creating Special Operations Forces to Counter Asymmetrical Challenges

Thursday, October 18, 2012 • 7:30pm

Carpenter Performing Arts Center

6200 Atherton Street • CSULB Campus

ADMIRAL ERIC OLSON

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.

Long before special operations forces and Navy SEAL's became household terms, Admiral Olson was among these quiet professionals performing the most difficult tasks in the most difficult circumstances. During his tenure as America's top special operations officer, he was responsible for recruiting, training, equipping, and deploying broadly capable forces worldwide.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said, "As a result of his hard work, we now have the best-trained, the best-equipped and the most experienced Special Operations Force in the history of the United States." A senior member of the United States National Defense team, Olson 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. Many of the military's most significant operational successes of recent years can be traced directly back to decisions made by Admiral Olson over the course of his career.

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 which time 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.

Admiral Mike Mullen, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, "When the history of these wars is written, the first, last, and most pivotal chapters will be about Eric and the people he has led and trained and mentored his entire adult life. From the shadows of the Hindu Kush to the streets of Baghdad, our special operations have literally changed the face of modern warfare."

Having developed the best of the best, Admiral Eric Olson addresses building, training, and leading high effective teams and our nation's geopolitical challenges. He has been aptly described as "the most important man you never heard of."