Four-star SEAL

Posted July 10th, 2007 by lex

Admiral Eric Olson took the helm from Army General Doug Brown yesterday, becoming the first four star SEAL and the first naval officer to lead SOCOM in Tampa.

The admiral’s pic and a brief bio are found in the lead-in here, although not explained is how he earned his Silver Star – service in the Battle of Mogadishu, as it turns out.

The award citations cite (Olson and four others) for their “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity” while under “withering enemy fire” during actions in support of UNOSOM II operations in Mogadishu, Somalia in October 1993. Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton, in the award citatation said that all of the men demonstrated level- headed heroism and a “complete disregard for their own personal saftey” in accomplishing their mission.

That was 14 years ago, when Olson would have been a commander – a pretty senior guy to be facing “withering fire.” He’s also quoted in a USA Today article as saying that the bureaucracy within DoD is hampering the war on terror.

Sounds like the new SOCOM boss leads from the front. Looks like he also understands the enemy.

Good.

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