Our next Luncheon Speaker event is coming up in April.  On April 30th, we will have Major General John Olson as our speaker.  He recently retired in August and we are lucky enough to have him share some of his career highlights and leadership experiences with us.  The event will take place at the Fred Babcock VFW Post 5555, 6715 Lake Shore Dr., Richfield, MN  55423.  Arrive at 1100, speaker starts shortly after 1130.  Food is available.   If you plan on attending send me an email, curtbrown11@gmail.com.  We just need a head count for the room size.  The event is free and open to all friends /families.  Hope to see you there!

Curt Brown ’78

President

TCA-AOG

Major General (ret) John M. Olson, PhD

Major General John Olson retired on August 1, 2024 with 36 total years of service in the United States Air Force (USAF). He last served as the MA to the Chief of Space Operations at the Headquarters United States Space Force (USSF) in the Pentagon with responsibility to organize, train and equip space forces; develop and acquire military space systems; and conduct space operations to advance and secure U.S. and allied interests in, from and to space. He led 16,500 Guardians and directed a $30.1 billion budget. He has held numerous air, space, cyber, acquisition, test, weapons, political-military, intelligence and technology command, staff and leadership roles at all levels, highlighted as the USSF lead for Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control, the Airborne Emergency Action Officer flying on the Airborne Nuclear Command Post responsible for the nation’s nuclear triad and strategic deterrence, the first Department of the Air Force Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer, and the historic Air Force Information Warfare unit standup of 49,101 cyber warriors.

General Olson is a 1992 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and earned five engineering degrees including a Doctorate, plus executive programs at Harvard, MIT and Stanford. He is a graduate of Air Force Test Pilot School with experience in 83 aircraft, a freefall parachutist, and a European and Eurasian Foreign Area Officer. He deployed multiple times leading air and space operations for Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, New Dawn in Iraq, Odyssey Dawn in Libya, and Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. He transitioned to NASA in 2004 and served as a Senior Executive Service leader in Human Spaceflight for nearly a decade culminating as the Assistant Director for Space and Aeronautics at the White House followed by 14 years in public and private industry as a Chief Executive Officer, Chairmen, and President. Dr. Olson lives in Lakeville, MN and is married to retired Lt Col Georgetta Olson, a 1990 graduate of the US Air Force Academy, and they have 3 sons: USSF 2Lt John Tyler Olson, Air Force Academy Senior Joseph Olson, and Jack Olson, a Lakeville South High School Junior.