Under the provisions of Department of Defense 1348.33-M, the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America takes pleasure in awarding the Defense Superior Service Medal to Major General Eric Thorne Olson, United States Army, for exceptionally superior service to the Department of Defense as Commanding General, 25th Infantry Division, and Commanding General, Combined Joint Task Force, from 2002 to 2005. The distinctive accomplishments of Major General Olson reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Army, and the Department of Defense.