CAPT Larry B. Olsen
Submarine Warfare Officer, United States Navy Captain
Professor of Military Science
(607)255-4202
CAPT Larry B. Olsen
Captain Larry B. Olsen, a native of San Francisco, California, earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics at the United States Naval Academy and received his commission as an officer in the Navy in June 1978. He received his Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in May 1995.
Upon completion of nuclear power training and the Submarine Officer Basic course, he was assigned to USS GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER (SSBN 656) (BLUE) in a variety of engineering assignments as a junior officer. In October 1982, he reported to the Naval Submarine School, Groton, CT, as a Submarine Warfare Tactics Instructor and Sonar Operational Trainer Division Officer.
After Submarine Officer Advanced Course, Captain Olsen was the Engineer Officer on USS ARCHERFISH (SSN 678) from June 1985 to August 1988. During this period, USS ARCHERFISH (SSN 678) conducted a Northern Atlantic deployment, a Mediterranean deployment and two Arctic deployments. This was followed by a two-year tour in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations as the Submarine Arctic Warfare Officer (OP-223E).
Following Pentagon duty, Captain Olsen was the Executive Officer on USS SAN JUAN (SSN 751) from October 1990 to August 1992. The ship conducted the AN/BSY-1 Combat System Operational Evaluation and was the COMSUBDEVRON TWELVE Battle Efficiency “E” recipient for 1991. From September 1992 to March 1995, he was the Deputy Director and Director of the CINCSTRAT Staff Group for the Commander in Chief, U. S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska.
He was Commanding Officer of USS MIAMI (SSN 755) from January 1996 to June 1998. During this period MIAMI was presented the Meritorious Unit Commendation for two Northern Atlantic deployments, and the crew received the COMSUBRON FOUR Battle Efficiency “E” for 1997. Captain Olsen was awarded the 1998 Naval Submarine League Jack N. Darby award for inspirational leadership and excellence in command.
Following at sea command, Captain Olsen served as Chief Staff Officer and Deputy Commander for Training, Tactical Development and Doctrine for Commander, Submarine Development Squadron TWELVE. Following this he was Commanding Officer of the Naval Submarine Support Facility (NSSF), New London, CT. NSSF was responsible for conducting all Intermediate Maintenance Activity level repairs on the 17 nuclear powered fast attack submarines home ported at the Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, CT. During his command, NSSF was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for achieving unprecedented levels of material readiness while undergoing significant organizational changes.
From September 2002 to March 2003, Captain Olsen was the nighttime Operations Officer at the FIFTH Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. In addition to providing senior supervisory decisions for Naval operations in the Arabian Gulf, he helped coordinate the logistics and forces build up leading to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
From April 2003 to July 2005, Captain Olsen was the Deputy Commander and Commander of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center in Norfolk, Virginia. This 4000 member command was formed out of four smaller organizations, and was responsible for all surface ship maintenance in the Norfolk, Virginia region, as well as significant portions of carrier and submarine maintenance.
Captain Olsen is currently serving as the Director of Operations (N3) on the staff of Commander Submarine Forces, Norfolk, Virginia.
Captain Olsen’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (four awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (five awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal.