Colonel Kimberly D. Olson
WMA President 1995 - 1997
Colonel Kimberly D. Olson is assigned to the Secretary of the Air Force, as a Senior Inquiry Officer, Office of the Inspector General, Pentagon, Washington DC.
She recently completed a four-month deployment to Iraq serving as the executive officer to the Director, Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance. Prior to this deployment, she worked as a Congressional Appropriations Liaison, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Comptroller. In addition to earning her third masters in National Security Strategy at the National War College, National Defense University, Ft McNair, Washington DC, this command pilot, with 3,700 hours of flying time, commanded the 96th Air Refueling Squadron, Spokane, WA. Colonel Olson led her squadron through a 60-day deployment to a combat zone in Saudi Arabia and earned an "Outstanding" rating on the Operational Readiness Inspection, a first in the wing's history. During the Kosovo campaign, she deployed to the Combined Air Operations Center as Chief, Tanker Director, for the largest refueling operation since DESERT STORM, guaranteeing the safe execution of the largest bombing campaign since WWII.
Colonel Olson entered the Air Force through Officer Training School, Nov 1979. Her education involves a BS in Physical and Health Education degree from the Ohio State University, a MA in Business Administration and Management from Webster University and an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from Naval War College. In addition, her professional military education includes Undergraduate Pilot Training, Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, Naval Command and Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, and Air War College.
She began her flying career as a KC-135 pilot and her crew was recognized as "Crew of the Year," Strategic Air Command Safety Magazine 1982. Colonel Olson then served as an assistant flight commander, T-38 instructor pilot in Arizona then in Texas as an executive officer, assistant chief upgrade flight, T-38 Pilot Instructor Training School. Competitively selected to Air Force Headquarters, Pentagon in Operations and Plans as an Air Staff Training Officer. Colonel Olson returned to the KC-135 as a standardization/evaluation instructor pilot and flight commander in Texas. She was handpicked as an initial cadre instructor pilot flying the T-1A trainer aircraft and served as flight examiner, flight commander, and supervisor of flying. She joined a unified staff as the defense transportation programs officer, Program Analysis and Financial Management, US Transportation Command, Illinois. She completed a Joint Staff tour as Chief, South Asia Division.
Decorations include: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Expeditionary Medal, Air Force Meritorious Service, Commendation, and Achievement Medals, Humanitarian Service Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.