Richard G. Olson
Richard Olson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan | |
| In office November 17, 2015 – November 17, 2016[1] | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Jarrett Blanc (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Laurel Miller (Acting) |
| United States Ambassador to Pakistan | |
| In office October 31, 2012 – October 27, 2015 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Cameron Munter |
| Succeeded by | David Hale |
| United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates | |
| In office October 14, 2008 – May 2, 2011 | |
| President | George W. Bush Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Michele Sison |
| Succeeded by | Michael Corbin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1959 (age 63–64) |
| Spouse | Deborah Jones (div. 2019) |
| Alma mater | Brown University |
| Awards | Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award Superior Honor Award |
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]
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
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]
In April 2022, Olson agreed to plead guilty to federal charges for his role in a lobbying campaign involving the Qatari government.[9]
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
- ^ Retirement of Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard G. Olson
- ^ "Richard Gustave Olson Jr". Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2015-10-07.
- ^ a b c d e "Profile: Richard G. Olson – US ambassador to Pakistan". Dawn. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ a b c "Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs". American Embassy in Kabul. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
- ^ "Obama names new ambassadors to Afghanistan, Pakistan". NDTV. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "US Senate approves Richard Olson as next ambassador to Pakistan". Express Tribune. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter to leave post this summer". CBS News. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ About Us: Ambassador Richard Olson
- ^ Former U.S. ambassador accused of illegal foreign lobbying
External links
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