MEET OUR NEXT SPEAKER
U.S. Congressman Pete Olson
Representing the 22nd District of Texas
Monday, September 27
Coming from a military family, Pete Olson knows the meaning of service. Olson was born into the military tradition on December 9, 1962 at the Madigan Army Medical Center in Fort Lewis, Washington.
The Olson family eventually settled in Seabrook, TX in 1972. Olson attended public school and graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1981, went to Rice University graduating in 1985, and then on to the University of Texas School of Law in Austin. On the day he completed the Texas Bar Examination in July 1988, Pete took the Oath of Office for service in the United States Navy.
Pete began his naval career in Pensacola, FL, where he attended Aviation Officer Candidate School and began a decorated, nine-year career as a Naval Aviator. Pete’s flight training brought him back to Texas in May 1989. He earned his Wings of Gold in March 1991 and began his training to fly the P-3C Orion.
Among other missions, the P-3C Orion is designed to track and destroy ballistic missile submarines. During his deployments, Pete flew missions over the Persian Gulf to enforce the international sanctions levied upon Iraq after Operation Desert Storm. He also flew across much of the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk between Japan and Russia. In 1994, Pete’s combat aircrew was named Pacific Fleet’s best in anti-submarine warfare. Pete was transferred to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1994 and a year later was assigned to be a Naval Liaison Officer to the U.S. Senate.
In 1998, Olson became an aide to Texas Senator Phil Gramm, where he worked to promote the interests of Texas’ premiere military and aerospace facilities – including the Johnson Space Center, Ellington Field, and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. Olson would later serve as Chief of Staff for Senator John Cornyn, assisting the Senator advance a conservative agenda that included confirming Supreme Court Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito and passing legislation to secure our borders.
Olson took the oath of office for the 111th Congress on January 6, 2009, for his first term as Congressman for the 22nd District of Texas. Olson serves on the following committees; House Transportation & Infrastructure, Science & Technology (Ranking Member, Space & Aeronautics Subcommittee) and Homeland Security.
Olson’s committee assignments are critical to addressing the priorities in the 22nd Congressional District of Texas. Transportation, NASA and the Johnson Space Center, and homeland security issues are critically important to this Houston suburban area.
Pete and his wife Nancy live in Sugar Land, TX with their children, Kate and Grant and their dog Riley. They are active members of the United Methodist Church.
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