Lieutenant Colonel Holderbaum enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in July 2004 and completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in October of the same year as a Private First Class. Upon completing MOS school at NAS Pensacola, FL and NAS Oceana, VA as an F/A-18A Aircraft Comm/Nav/Radar Systems Technician, he was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772 (HMH-772) in Willow Grove, PA, as a CH-53 Aircraft Avionics Technician. During his time at HMH-772, Corporal Holderbaum attended the Platoon Leaders Course at Officer Candidate School in 2007 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May 2008.
Following The Basic School in Quantico, VA, and the Air Support Control Officer Course in Twentynine Palms, CA, Second Lieutenant Holderbaum reported to Marine Air Support Squadron 2 in Okinawa, Japan. There he served as the Squadron Training Officer, a Platoon Commander, and accumulated 83 hours of special crew time aboard the KC-130R/T as a Direct Air Support Center (Airborne) controller. In April 2011, First Lieutenant Holderbaum reported to Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 28 at MCAS Cherry Point, NC where he deployed twice to Regional Command Southwest, Afghanistan—first in 2011 as an ACE TACC Close Battle Cell Coordinator, and again in 2013 as a Senior Air Coordinator. While at MTACS-28, Captain Holderbaum also served as the Squadron CMCC and Assistant Operations Officer.
In 2014, Captain Holderbaum graduated from the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course and reported to Marine Air Control Group 48 as the Group WTTP, Training Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer. During this time Captain Holderbaum was selected to lead a Group detachment of 94 reserve and active-duty Marines to the Kingdom of Norway to establish a MEB ACE TACC and DASC in support of CJTF Exercise COLD RESPONSE 2016. In addition to his assigned mission, Captain Holderbaum executed an airborne DASC C2 capability using host-nation aircraft to demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of an airborne C2 platform operating in extreme climate conditions over mountainous terrain accumulating 16.8 flight hours.
He later attended the resident Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, VA, during Academic Year 2017–2018. Following graduation, he reported to The Joint Staff, J39 Deputy Directorate for Global Operations, serving as an Action Officer instrumental in the development of a Director Joint Staff-directed Information Cross-Functional Team (I-CFT) to integrate operations in the information environment. In his final year at the Pentagon, Major Holderbaum served as the Executive Assistant to the J39 Deputy Director before attending the resident Command and Staff College during Academic Year 2021–2022.
Following career-level school, Major Holderbaum reported to Marine Air Control Squadron 4 in Okinawa, Japan where he served as the Executive Officer from July 2022 to September 2023. He then transferred to 3d Marine Division Headquarters, Camp Courtney, Okinawa, serving as the Division G-3 Current Operations Officer and Aviation C2 Planner until June 2025. Lieutenant Colonel Holderbaum assumed command of Marine Air Control Squadron 4 on 17 June, 2025.
Lieutenant Colonel Holderbaum’s personal military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (w/ 2 gold stars), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (w/ 1 gold star). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Arts in Military Studies from Marine Corps University.