LtCol Olmstead is a Faculty Adviser at Command and Staff College.
He was commissioned into the Marine Corps from the United States Naval Academy in 2003. Trained as an Infantry Officer, he served in the Fleet Marine Force as: a Light Armored Reconnaissance Platoon Commander, H&S Company Executive Officer, and Fire Support Coordinator for 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion; Rifle Company Commander for 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Battalion Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment; and Assistant Operations Officer for both 6th and 7th Marine Regiments.
Additionally, he served: on Security Force Assistance Advisory Team missions in both OIF and OEF; as a Company Executive Officer and Company Commander at Advanced Infantry Training Battalion – East; as the Inspector-Instructor for D Company, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion; and as an Operations and Tactics Instructor and the Operations Officer for Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group.
Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Current Operations Officer for Task Force 51 / 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Bahrain.
During his career, Lieutenant Colonel Olmstead has deployed six times to the CENTCOM AOR, serving three tours in Iraq, two tours in Afghanistan, and one tour as part of SPMAGTF-CR-CC in Kuwait.
LtCol Olmstead has a BS in History from the United States Naval Academy, and he is the recipient of: the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (two stars in lieu of third award), Navy Commendation Medal (one star in lieu of second award), Navy Achievement Medal with “V” device (three stars in lieu of fourth award), and Combat Action Ribbon (one star in lieu of second award).