A new face will be leading the way for the U.S. Military Academy cadets soon.

Brig. Gen. Eric T. Olson was selected as the 67th commandant of cadets at the U.S. Military Academy, it was officially announced Monday. He will assume command from Brig. Gen. John P. Abizaid in a ceremony at 9 a.m. today at Trophy Point.

Abizaid will be promoted to major general at the change of command ceremony. He will assume command of the 1st Infantry Division in Wuerzberg, Germany, Aug. 3.

A native of New York, Olson is a 1972 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and holds a master’s degree in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University.

Olson has served in a wide variety of command and staff positions.

He commanded Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Carson, Colo., from 1975 to 1976; the 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) during Desert Storm; and the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Most recently he served as as the assistant division commander (support), 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized).

Olson’s primary staff assignments include Chief, Tactics Division, Combined Arms Tactics, U.S. Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Ga.; and chief, Strategic Plans and Policy, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Washington, D.C.