Building
a
Stronger
America
James D. Olson
RADM, USN
Board of Advisors
Rear Admiral (Retired) James D. Olson, II was born in Waltham, Massachusetts and raised in Clearwater, Florida. He graduated from Florida State University with a BS in Business Management in 1965 and entered into the U.S. Navy’s Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola. He graduated from AOCS at the top of his class and entered into flight training, receiving his Wings of Gold in 1967 and given his aircraft assignment of choice, the F-4 Phantom II, at Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar in San Diego.
RADM Olson’s military decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (3 awards), Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal (3), Air Medal (16 Strike/Flight and 1 individual), Navy Commendation Medal (3) and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross (with Gold Star), as well as ten other individual, unit and campaign decorations.