Elizabeth de la Cruz
John Olson, formerly vice president of Sierra Nevada‘s space systems group, has joined Polaris Industries as vice president and general manager of the defense division at the Minnesota-based motorized products manufacturing company.
The 28-year public and private sector veteran will oversee the division’s profit-and-loss functions as well as help develop the company’s long-term growth strategy in defense market, Polaris said Monday.
He will report directly to Bob Mack, president of Polaris’ global adjacent markets business.
“John is incredibly accomplished, is highly conversant with cutting-edge technology, and has decades of experience with the Department of Defense, having both worked within that organization and conducted business with it as a contractor,” said Scott Wine, Polaris chairman and CEO.
Prior to Sierra Nevada, Olson held leadership roles at the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, NASA and the U.S. Air Force.
Olson also holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering sciences and mechanical engineering from the Air Force Academy, master’s degrees in materials science and engineering and aviation systems from the University of Illinois and a doctorate in industrial and systems engineering from Auburn University.
