Colonel Felipe Olea is a Chilean Army officer, mountain guide, and leadership educator with more than 25 years of experience training and leading teams in demanding mountain environments. Throughout his military and mountaineering career, he has specialized in leadership development, decision-making under pressure, risk management, and the preparation of individuals and teams for challenging conditions.

As part of Leadership Expeditions and Vertical’s experiential learning programs, Felipe contributes his extensive experience in leadership training, expedition planning, and team development. His approach combines lessons learned from military leadership, high-altitude expeditions, and outdoor education to help participants strengthen resilience, adaptability, teamwork, and personal accountability.

For more than two decades, Felipe has served as an instructor, guide, and commander within the Chilean Army Mountain School, one of South America’s leading institutions for mountain warfare and alpine training. During this time, he has trained military personnel and future leaders in technical mountain skills, leadership, and expedition management.

His mountaineering experience includes numerous expeditions throughout Chile and abroad. In 2012, Felipe led the Chilean Army mountaineering team that participated in Vertical’s Mount Everest Expedition, successfully reaching the summit of the world’s highest mountain.

In addition to his operational experience, Felipe has devoted a significant portion of his career to leadership education. He holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Universidad Mayor and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Planning from the Chilean War College. He has also served as both faculty member and manager within the Leadership Department of the Chilean War College, helping develop future military leaders through academic and experiential learning programs.

Today, Felipe serves as Director of the Chilean Army Mountain School, where he continues to oversee training programs, teach leadership, and prepare mountaineers and military personnel for operations in complex mountain environments. He also works as an expedition leader and guide with Vertical, bringing his unique combination of military leadership and mountain experience to educational expeditions throughout Chile.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Felipe enjoys traditional crafts such as blacksmithing and practices archery, pursuits that reflect his appreciation for discipline, precision, and lifelong learning.