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Former US Special Ops Commander Olson Joins Iridium Board of Directors

Eric T. Olson

Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM) has appointed retired Navy Adm. Eric T. Olson, formerly the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, to the company’s board of directors.

Olson, a 38-year Navy veteran, was known as the Bull Frog until his retirement in August for being the longest-serving Navy SEAL on active duty, having qualified as a Navy SEAL in 1974. Olson was the highest-ranking SEAL to hold the Bull Frog title and the first SEAL to command USSOCOM.

Olson was also both the first three-star SEAL and the first four-star SEAL.

Olson has been awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Silver Star. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1973 and holds a master’s degree in national security affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Matt Desch, Iridium

“I’m delighted to welcome Admiral Olson to our board and the Iridium family, ” said Iridium CEO Matt Desch. “His decades of distinguished leadership and management experience as a naval officer will be especially important as we grow our strategic relationship with the U.S. government. We look forward to his many contributions as a key member of our board and senior leadership team.”

Olson’s appointment to Iridium comes nearly two months after Mission Essential Personnel announced that Olson would join the company’s board of advisors. To see GovCon Wire‘s story on the MEP appointment, click here.

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