Admiral Eric Olson, U.S. Navy (Retired), also serves on Iridium’s Board of Directors. He brings nearly forty years of broad leadership, management and military operations experience to Iridium. Most recently, he was the commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, responsible for the readiness of joint special operations missions worldwide. Previously, Admiral Olson led operational units within every component of the Naval Special Warfare community and served in senior positions within USSOCOM and the U.S. Navy staff. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1973 and qualified as a Naval Special Warfare officer ("Navy SEAL") in 1974. He earned a Master of Arts degree in national security affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School, and has been awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Silver Star.