By Richard Rubin, CQ Staff

Election: Defeated Rep. Nick Lampson , D

Residence: Sugar Land

Born: Dec. 9, 1962; Fort Lewis, Wash.

Religion: United Methodist

Family: Wife, Nancy Olson; two children

Education: Rice U., B.A. 1985 (computer science); U. of Texas, J.D. 1988

Military: Navy, 1988-98

Career: Congressional aide; Navy Senate liaison

Political highlights: No previous office

Olson will likely be a reliable vote for conservative Republican policies. He favors lower taxes and offshore oil drilling and opposes abortion rights and liberal immigration policies.

Olson plans to follow the tradition of his former bosses, Texas Sens. Phil Gramm (1985-2002) and John Cornyn , for whom he worked as an aide. Olson’s natural specialty is defense policy, which he learned from both the military and political sides of the debate as an aide to the senators. He will be seeking a seat on the Armed Services Committee.

His Capitol Hill experience caused him trouble in the campaign with opponents who criticized his 2007 return to the district and his Washington affiliations, but his knowledge of Congress should let him start much faster than other freshmen.

“I will bring budgetary, appropriations and policy experience — as well as a national security background,” he says in a written response to questions.