Army Maj. Gen. Eric T. Olson, who led the 25th Infantry Division (Light) during simultaneous deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and was nominated by President Bush in late May to be deputy commander of U.S. Pacific Command, is instead retiring from the Army.

Olson, 55, said he and his wife, Vicki, talked over retirement. When he made the decision, the nomination, which was before the U.S. Senate for confirmation, was rescinded, he said.

"It's a great job, but for a number of reasons, Vicki and I have decided now is the right time for us to retire, and those reasons are personal and professional," Olson said. "This is not an easy decision for me."

On Sept. 30, Air Force Lt. Gen. Daniel P. Leaf, vice commander of Air Force Space Command in Colorado, was confirmed as deputy commander of Pacific Command, the largest of the United States' nine unified military commands, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka's office said.

Olson led the 25th Division to Iraq and Afghanistan on its first combat deployment since the Vietnam War.

In early 2004, 5,200 Schofield Barracks soldiers, most of them with the 2nd Brigade, deployed to northern Iraq. Several months later, 5,800 Hawai'i soldiers, including the 3rd Brigade, left for Afghanistan.

Olson, the No. 2 U.S. commander in Afghanistan in charge of Combined Joint Task Force 76, oversaw operations during the country's first presidential election last October.

David A. Bramlett, a retired Army four-star general who headed U.S. Forces Command and now lives on the North Shore, previously said it was hard to list all the superlatives when it came to Olson's accomplishments.

"To take a division and prepare it to go in two different directions ... go to (Afghanistan) and assume command of a multinational force, put all that together, fight a very sophisticated campaign with the ground forces there ... it's just an amazing performance by a great leader," Bramlett said.

Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon took command of the 25th Division in late June from Olson, who continued on as a "special assistant" to Lt. Gen. John Brown III, commander of U.S. Army Pacific at Fort Shafter, and while waiting for Senate confirmation and a third star.

"I love Hawai'i. I love what we've been able to do here. Hawai'i has been absolutely great to Vicki and me, so it's a tough decision (to retire)," Olson said.

After a nearly 34-year Army career, Olson's retirement will be effective early next year. He said he's been keeping his options open, including staying in Hawai'i.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.