Gregg P. Olson became Chancellor of the National Defense University’s College of International Security Affairs on 13 January 2025, following a distinguished career in the United States Marine Corps.
As a career infantry officer, he commanded at the company, battalion (during combat), and Marine Expeditionary Unit levels, concluding his uniformed service as Director of the Marine Corps Staff, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps on 1 October 2024. His earlier staff assignments spanned logistics and operations billets with infantry battalions, a Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a Marine division staff.
Outside the Corps’ operating forces, Chancellor Olson served in staff and ceremonial billets at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. Additionally, he served as an instructor and faculty advisor at the Marine Corps University and was the Marine Corps’ Director for Senate Liaison. Chancellor Olson’s service at Headquarters, Marine Corps included duties as Director of the Marine Corps’ 2016 Quadrennial Defense Review Office and as the Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations. Chancellor Olson’s field-grade joint assignment was as Assistant Deputy Director for Regional Operations (J-33), J-3, Joint Staff, where he qualified as a Deputy Director for Operations in the National Military Command Center.
As a general officer, Chancellor Olson was assigned as Deputy Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command/Commanding General, Marine Corps Forces, Central Command (Forward), in Manama, Bahrain. During that tour, he was also designated Commander of Task Force 51/59, Fifth Fleet, U.S. Naval Forces, Central Command.
His joint assignments as a general officer included serving as the Joint Staff (J-5) Deputy Director for Political-Military Affairs, Middle East (DDME), and as Director of Operations and Cyber (J-3) at the United States Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany.
Chancellor Olson grew up in Cumberland, RI, Montreal, Quebec, and Westlake Village, CA. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1985 and also holds graduate degrees from the College of Naval Command and Staff, and the National War College.
He is married to a former Navy Nurse Corps officer.