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Donald Olson

b. 1953

American politician

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About Donald Olson

Born 1953. Donald Olson is an American politician, businessperson, aircraft pilot and physician.

Donald C. "Donny" Olson (born June 18, 1953) is an American physician, attorney, commercial pilot, reindeer herder, and politician, currently serving as a member of the Alaska Senate since 2001. Olson represents rural communities in Western Alaska and Arctic Alaska including Nome, Kotzebue, and Utqiagvik.

Early life Olson was born in the Inupiaq village of Golovin, Alaska, where he resides to date. He graduated from Covenant High School in Unalakleet, attended Seattle Pacific College; then the University of Minnesota, Duluth, where he received a B.A. in Chemistry; attended the University of Alaska, Fairbanks; the Oral Roberts University School of Medicine in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he received his M.D., the University of Colorado School of Law for his Juris Doctor, and did postgraduate work in law at Cambridge University in England.

Career He is the president and CEO of Olson Air Service, based in Nome, Alaska. He was the sole Democrat associated with the Alaska political corruption probe. He was the only Alaska legislator to reject a bribe offer to vote for an oil tax bill. It was proposed as a campaign contribution of $25,000 for his 2004 Lieutenant Governor's race. He subsequently helped the FBI make their case against those involved.

Olson caucused with the Republicans in the majority during the 28th Senate, from 2013 to 2014, but he was not invited to participate in the organization of the majority caucus for the 29th Senate. He was a member of the Democratic minority caucus from 2015 to 2023. He is currently a member of the 17-member bipartisan majority.

Personal life Olson lives in Golovin, Alaska. In January 2025, he was hospitalized for a "stroke-like medical emergency" which left him with aphasia impairing his speaking ability.

Electoral history

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
University of Minnesota, Oral Roberts University, Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge, University of Colorado Law School
Positions held
Member of the State Senate of Alaska
Also known as
Donald C. Olson, Donny Olson

People in Donald Olson's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Donald Olson's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Donald Olson?

American politician

When was Donald Olson born?

Donald Olson was born on 18 June 1953 in Nome.

What is Donald Olson's occupation?

Donald Olson is a politician, businessperson, aircraft pilot and physician.

What nationality is Donald Olson?

Donald Olson is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Donald Olson

· Wikidata: Q5294958

· DBpedia: Donny Olson

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Donald Olson. https://biography.guide/donald-olson/

MLA: "Donald Olson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/donald-olson/.

Chicago: "Donald Olson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/donald-olson/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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