Pete's Biography 

The Road to Texas – Setting Down Roots in Clear Lake

Born December 9, 1962 in Madigan Army Medical Center – Fort Lewis, Washington State

Following his service in the Army, Pete’s father earned a PhD in paper chemistry and began a career with Champion International. After various moves, the Olson family settled in Seabrook, Texas in 1972.

Pete attended public school and graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1981.

He played varsity basketball his Freshman year and later graduated from Rice University in 1985 with a BA in computer science and enrolled in the University of Texas School of Law in Austin.

On the day he completed the Texas Bar Examination in July of 1988, Pete took the Oath of Office and volunteered for service in the United States Navy.

Decorated Military Career

• Following graduation from law school, Pete moved to Pensacola, FL to report for Aviation Officer Candidate School and began a highly decorated, nine-year career as a Naval Aviator.
• Pete’s flight training brought him back to Texas in May of 1989. He earned his Wings of Gold in March 1991 and began his training to fly the P-3C Orion. Among other missions, the P-3C Orion is designed to track and destroy ballistic missile submarines.
• He has flown missions over the Persian Gulf to enforce the international sanctions levied upon Iraq after the first Gulf War, the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea, the Sea of Okhotsk, and across much of the Pacific. In 1994, Pete’s combat aircrew was named Pacific Fleet’s best in anti-submarine warfare.
• Pete was transferred to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1994 and a year later was assigned to be a Naval Liaison Officer to the U.S. Senate.

Serving the Interests of Texas

While Pete was a Senate Liaison Officer, he assisted Texas’ then senior Senator, Phil Gramm, on several trips overseas to inspect military installations.

Senator Gramm asked Pete to join his staff in 1998 to head up the Senator’s work protecting and improving critical military facilities in Texas – including the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Ellington Field, the Army truck manufacturing facility in Sealy, and other installations.

Pete eventually assumed responsibility for Gramm’s vaunted Texas Special Projects team that fought for NASA funding, transportation funding like I-69, and infrastructure investments like Houston’s Medical Center, and the Port of Houston.

Pete has never supported the Trans Texas Corridor and he never will. In the 1990’s, Senator Gramm and Pete worked to fund expansion of Hwy. 59 and upgrades to I-69. None of this funding was for the Trans Texas Corridor.

Upon Senator Gramm’s retirement, Pete was asked by newly-elected Senator John Cornyn to be his Chief of Staff. Pete served as Senator Cornyn’s Chief of Staff for nearly five years (December 2002 - May 2007) and among many responsibilities, helped the Senator in his efforts to protect NASA funding, confirm conservative judges to the federal bench, pass a Federal Marriage Amendment, and lay the groundwork for enforcement-first Immigration policies.

Family

• Pete and Nancy have been married for almost fourteen years and have 10-year old daughter, Kate, and a 7-year old son, Grant. They are active members of the United Methodist Church and reside in Sugar Land, Texas.
• Pete continues to serve as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Awards/Memberships

Military

• Joint Service Commendation Medal
• Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal
• Joint Service Achievement Medal
• Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
• Southwest Asia Service Medal
• Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge

Civilian

• Member of the National Rifle Association
• Member of the Texas State Society
• Life-member, Rice University’s “R” Association
• University of Texas Chancellor’s Council and Littlefield Society
• Selected as a Director of the Texas Lyceum – January 2007