Richard Olson, US Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Chair: Nicholas Burns, Sultan of Oman Professor of the Practice of International Relations, HKS
In a breakfast discussion with R. Nicholas Burns, HKS, Ambassador Richard Olson will reflect on his experience heading one of the largest US embassies in Islamabad and his views on the US-Pakistan relationship.
Ambassador Olson was sworn in as Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on September 24, 2012.
Previously, he served as the Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs at U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan, from 2011 to 2012. Ambassador Olson also served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates from 2008 to 2011. He is a member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister Counselor.
Olson joined the U.S. Department of State in 1982. He has served in Mexico, Uganda, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, (where he served both in Abu Dhabi and Dubai), and in Najaf, Iraq. He was also Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
His Washington assignments include: State Department Operations Center (twice), NATO Desk, the Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs (twice, including as Director), and the Office of Iraqi Affairs, including as Director. He graduated from Brown University in 1981, receiving an A.B. in Law and Society (Honors) and History.
Olson has been awarded the Presidential Distinguished Service Award, the Secretary of State’s Award for Public Outreach, the State Department’s Superior Honor Award (three times), and the Secretary of Defense’s Exceptional Civilian Service Award (for his service in Iraq).
