Kim Olson
Kim Olson | |
---|---|
Personal details | |
Born | Waukegan, Illinois, U.S. | October 24, 1957
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Kent |
Children | 2 |
Education | |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Air Force |
Years of service | 1979–2005 |
Rank | Colonel |
Kimberly D. Olson (born October 24, 1957)
Early life and education
Olson was born in Waukegan, Illinois. Her parents were teachers in the United States Department of Defense. Olson grew up on her family's farm in New Hampton, Iowa, and lived on military bases in Germany, Bermuda, and the Philippines. She graduated from Ohio State University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education.[2] She also earned Master of Arts degrees in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College and in national security strategy from the National Defense University, as well as Master of Business Administration from Webster University.[3]
Career
Military service
Olson joined the United States Air Force in 1979. She was the first woman to go through flight training at Laughlin Air Force Base and became one of the first female pilots in the Air Force.[4] She served as a squadron commander of the 96th Air Refueling Squadron out of Fairchild Air Force Base, becoming one of only eight female squadron commanders.[5] Olson reached the rank of colonel in 2000,[2] and was assigned to the comptroller's office in The Pentagon in early 2003.[6]
In 2003, General
After her discharge, Olson founded Grace After Fire, a nonprofit organization that aids female military veterans when they return to civilian life.[6] She also wrote a memoir, Iraq and Back: Inside the War to Win the Peace, which was published in 2006.[7]
Politics
In 2007, Olson became the Director of Human Resources for the
In the
Following the run-off, Olson spent the rest of the election season raising money for women running for office in Texas. Through her PAC, WomenWin,[15] Olson donated funds to dozens of women running for state house, county commissioner and judicial races.
Personal life
Olson met her husband, Kent, while they both served as flight instructors for the Air Force in Arizona.[4] They have an adult son and daughter and one grandchild,[16] and live on a farm in Mineral Wells, Texas.[2]
Olson is a Master Gardener.[17] In 2014, she was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame.[18]
Bibliography
- Iraq and Back: Inside the War to Win the Peace. ISBN 978-1591145271.
References
- ^ "2008 – Kimberly D. Olson | Iowa Aviation Museum". Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Yaffe-Bellany, David (July 30, 2018). "On the campaign trail, Democrat running for agriculture commissioner reckons with her past". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ Fischer, Kent (May 16, 2007). "DISD hires HR director: She left Air Force under cloud, but her account satisfies Hinojosa". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on May 19, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ a b de Leon, Virginia (April 23, 1998). "Pilot breaks the gender barrier". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. A1. Retrieved July 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Air Force Commander breaks gender barrier". Kitsap Sun. April 24, 1998. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Tilove, Jonathan (July 21, 2018). "How Texas Democrat Kim Olson's military career crashed in Iraq". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ a b "Pilot turns nightmares of Iraq into therapeutic writing". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 26, 2006. p. 6B. Retrieved July 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Miller, T. Christian (April 19, 2006). "A Bright Career Unravels in Iraq". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ Wilonsky, Robert (June 29, 2007). "If Nothing Else, DISD's New HR Director Has a Fascinating Story". Dallas Observer. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ Scott, Galen (May 22, 2007). "Olson sworn in as new WISD board trustee". Weatherford Democrat. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ Winn, Melissa (August 24, 2011). "Olson resigns seat on WISD Board". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved July 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Andrea Zelinski. "Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller wins re-election". HoustonChronicle.com. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ "Texas 24th Congressional District: Beth Van Duyne wins GOP primary; Kim Olson and Candace Valenzuela headed to runoff". Dallas News. March 4, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ "Texas Ethics Commission" (PDF).
- ^ "Kim Olson vying for open WISD seat". Weatherford Democrat. May 1, 2007. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ "Former WISD trustee Olson seeks office". Weatherford Democrat. May 19, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ Winn, Melissa (May 28, 2014). "Holiday recognizes both men and women for service to their country". Fort Worth Star Telegram. p. A1. Retrieved July 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.