Richard Olson

Ambassador Richard Olson is a retired U.S. foreign service officer. His final assignment was as U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP). From 2012 to 2015, he was the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan. Olson served as the coordinating director for development and economic affairs at U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan, from 2011 to 2012. He was U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates from 2008 to 2011. Olson joined the U.S. Department of State in 1982. He served in Mexico, Uganda, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates (both Abu Dhabi and Dubai), and Najaf, Iraq. He was also deputy chief of mission at the United States Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). His Washington assignments included: State Department Operations Center (twice), NATO desk, the Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs (twice, including as director), and the Office of Iraqi Affairs, including as director.