The announcement comes after three major miscues by the Barker-Fountain-Olson triumvirate: CBRE fee structure change, City Attorney’s illegal contract and FAA grant denial.
Does Olson have experience and expertise to avoid similar administrative blunders? Time will tell.
Hayward appoints Olson as City Administrator
Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward announced today that he has appointed Eric Olson to serve as City Administrator, effective on Monday, March 30.
Olson currently serves as the City’s Assistant City Administrator. A 1985 distinguished graduate of the US Naval Academy, Olson retired from the Navy and returned to Pensacola in 2011. He began his military career as a Naval Aviator and was later designated a Foreign Area Officer. In that capacity, he specialized in European political-military affairs and strategic planning. Olson also holds a Master’s degree in International Public Policy from The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies and completed two years of additional post-graduate work as an Olmsted Scholar at the University of Leipzig, Germany.
Also effective on Monday, March 30, Interim City Administrator Richard Barker, Jr. will return to his role as Chief Financial Officer.