Richard G. Olson

Richard Gustave Olson Jr. (born 1959[2]) is an American diplomat and career foreign service officer, who formerly served as the United States Ambassador to Pakistan. Prior to his appointment in Pakistan, Olson had served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates as well the Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs in the U.S. Embassy, Kabul with the rank of ambassador. He is a career member of the Foreign Service, class of Career Minister.[3]

Richard Olson
United States Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
In office
November 17, 2015 – November 17, 2016[1]
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byJarrett Blanc (Acting)
Succeeded byLaurel Miller (Acting)
United States Ambassador to Pakistan
In office
October 31, 2012 – October 27, 2015
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byCameron Munter
Succeeded byDavid Hale
United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates
In office
October 14, 2008 – May 2, 2011
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
Preceded byMichele Sison
Succeeded byMichael Corbin
Personal details
Born1959 (age 61–62)
Spouse(s)Deborah Jones div. 2019
Alma materBrown University
AwardsSecretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award
Superior Honor Award

Personal life and education

Olson was married to Deborah K. Jones, the former United States Ambassador to Libya. They have two daughters.[4]

Olson earned an undergraduate degree in law and society, and history from Brown University in 1981.[4]

Career
Ambassador Olson with President Barack Obama

Olson joined the U.S. State Department in 1982, and served tenures in Mexico, Uganda, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Iraq, and three tours in the United Arab Emirates.[3]

Olson has also served as the deputy chief of mission at the United States Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from 2006 to 2008.[3]

He served as U.S. Consul General in Dubai from 2001 to 2003. From 2008 to 2011, Olson was the U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.[3]

Olson served as Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs at the U.S. embassy in Kabul, from June 2011 to June 2012.[5]

In 2012, Cameron Munter resigned as the United States ambassador to Pakistan after relations between Pakistan and the United States were deteriorated following the US forces raid killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. The President of United States Barack Obama nominated Olson for ambassadorship which the United States Senate approved.[6][7] He presented his credentials to President Asif Ali Zardari on October 31, 2012.[8]

Awards and honors

Olson has been awarded the Presidential Distinguished Service Award and the Secretary of Defense's Exceptional Civilian Service Award,[3] and he is a three times recipient of the State Department's Superior Honor Award.[4]

References
  1. Retirement of Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard G. Olson
  2. "Richard Gustave Olson Jr". Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2015-10-07.
  3. "Profile: Richard G. Olson – US ambassador to Pakistan". Dawn. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  4. "Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs". American Embassy in Kabul. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  5. "Obama names new ambassadors to Afghanistan, Pakistan". NDTV. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  6. "US Senate approves Richard Olson as next ambassador to Pakistan". Express Tribune. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  7. "U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter to leave post this summer". CBS News. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  8. About Us: Ambassador Richard Olson
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Michele Sison		 United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates
2008–2011		 Succeeded by
Michael Corbin
Preceded by
Cameron Munter		 United States Ambassador to Pakistan
2012–2015		 Succeeded by
David Hale
Preceded by
Jarrett Blanc
Acting		 United States Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
2015–2016		 Incumbent


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