Mr. Olson joined the U.S. Department of State in 1982. He has served overseas in Mexico, Uganda, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia (as the Embassy's liaison officer to General Schwarzkopf during the 1991 Gulf War), Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, where he served both at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi (1999-2001) and as US Consul General in Dubai (2001-2003), and in Najaf, Iraq..
His Washington assignments include: State Department Operations Center (twice), NATO Desk, the Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs (twice, including as Director), and the Office of Iraqi Affairs (NEA/I), including as Director.
He graduated from Brown University in 1981, receiving an A.B. in Law and Society (Honors) and History.
Mr. Olson has been awarded the Secretary of Defense’s Exceptional Civilian Service Award (for his service in Iraq), and the State Department’s Superior Honor Award (three times).
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