Cdr Michael B Riley Bio

COMMANDER GERALD R. OLIN UNITED STATES NAVY

Commander Olin is a native of Phoenix, Arizona. He enlisted in the Navy in 1983 as a Fire Controlman and achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. His enlisted assignments include USS HAROLD E HOLT (FF 1074), the commissioning crew of USS CHOSIN (CG 65), and Aegis Training and Support Group, Pearl Harbor.

He earned his commission through the Limited Duty Officer Program in 1994 and later redesignated to Surface Warfare Officer. After receiving his commission, he reported to the commissioning crew of USS BENFOLD (DDG 65), serving as Systems Test Officer from September 1994 to December 1998. He subsequently served on the staff of Cruiser Destroyer Group FIVE as Assistant Strike Officer. During this tour he deployed as Tomahawk Liaison Officer to Joint Task Force NOBLE ANVIL in Naples, Italy in support of Operation ALLIED FORCE and the Kosovo Air Campaign. As a Department Head, Commander Olin served as Weapons Officer in USS DECATUR (DDG 73) from February 2001 to August 2003. His next sea duty assignment was on the staff of Carrier Strike Group SEVEN embarked in USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76) from September 2005 to November 2006 where he was assigned as Training and Readiness Officer.

Ashore, Commander Olin has been assigned to the Center for Surface Combat Systems, Detachment San Diego where he served as Assistant Officer in Charge as well as Officer in Charge from September 2003 to September 2005. He also served on the staff of Commander Naval Surface Forces as Human Resources Program Manager (N10) from November 2006 to May 2008. While at CNSF, Commander Olin volunteered to serve as an Individual Augmentee to the staff of Commander, Multi-National Forces-Iraq in Baghdad, Iraq from April 2007 to May 2008 and was assigned to the Strategic Operations Directorate (C3) serving as a liaison officer to the Prime Minister’s National Operations Center.

Commander Olin holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from National University in San Diego, CA and a Master of Science in Global Leadership from the University of San Diego.

In October of 2008, he reported as Executive Officer, USS INDEPENDENCE (LCS 2), Gold Crew, and assumed Command of USS INDEPENDENCE 13 March 2011.

Commander Olin’s personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (six awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal (six awards).