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U.S. Commerce Department Taps Veteran Attorney as New Deputy Chief of Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 5, 2012
CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
202-482-4883

U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson announced today that Steven J. Olson will be joining the Department as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser. As part of the senior management team, Olson will serve as an adviser and counselor to the Secretary, and will help drive the Department’s efforts to implement the top policy priorities of the Obama administration.

“Steve has an impressive record as a widely respected lawyer and will be a significant asset to the Commerce Department,” Bryson said. “I look forward to working with him to continue our efforts to support the business community, boost job creation and help American companies succeed both at home and abroad.

Olson was a partner at O’Melveny & Myers, LLP in Los Angeles from 2004 to 2011, where he regularly represented companies in domestic and international complex commercial litigation, civil and criminal government enforcement actions, and corporate compliance and governance matters. Steve served as the firm’s worldwide Hiring Partner and was a member of the Partnership Admissions Committee.  He also served as the firm-wide Talent Development Partner, where he was responsible for the training, mentoring, performance reviews and compensation of the firm’s approximately 750 associates and counsel worldwide.

In 2011, Olson served as President and Chief Legal Officer for Aletheia Research and Management, Inc., an independent, registered asset management firm in Santa Monica with separately managed account strategies for institutional and high net worth individuals. The firm also sub-advises European and Canadian mutual funds.

Prior to joining O’Melveny, Olson served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Major Frauds Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. In that position, he concentrated on prosecuting securities and investment fraud cases.

Olson has been recognized in his field by Legal 500 and named a “Rising Star” and a “Super Lawyer” in surveys conducted by Law & Politics Media Inc. and published in Los Angeles magazine.

Olson has also been active with educational and civic organizations throughout his career. He served as a board member of the Stanford University Alumni Association and on the Campaign Cabinet of the United Way for Greater Los Angeles. Additionally, Olson is the Secretary of the Kidspace Children’s Museum Board, a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy, and a board member of Rose Bowl Legacy. Olson has a B.A. with honors from Stanford University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan, where he was Contributing Editor for the Michigan Journal of International Law.