Major Holderbaum enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in July of 2004 and completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island in October of the same year as a Private First Class. Upon completion of his MOS school at NAS Pensacola, FL and NAS Oceana, VA as a 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 received his commission as a 2ndLt in May 2008.
Following The Basic School in Quantico, VA in 2008 and completing the Air Support Control Officer Course in 29 Palms, CA in March 2009, 2ndLt 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 on the KC-130R/T as a Direct Air Support Center (Airborne) controller. In April 2011, 1stLt Holderbaum reported to Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 28 at MCAS Cherry Point, NC where he deployed twice to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, once in 2011 serving as a ACE TACC Close Battle Cell Coordinator, and then in 2013 as a Senior Air Coordinator. While at MTACS-28, Captain Holderbaum served as the squadron CMCC and Assistant Operations Officer.
In 2014, Captain Holderbaum graduated from the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course and then 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.
Captain Holderbaum then reported for the AY17-18 resident Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, VA and upon graduation, reported to The Joint Staff, J39 Deputy Director for Global Operations where he served as an Action Officer, instrumental in the development of a DJS-directed Information Cross-Functional Team (I-CFT) designed to integrate operations in the information environment globally and across all warfighting domains. In his final year at The Pentagon, Major Holderbaum served as the Executive Officer to the J39 Deputy Director before reporting to the Marine Corps’ resident Command and Staff College for AY21-22.
Major Holderbaum reported to Marine Air Control Squadron 4 (MACS-4) in Okinawa, Japan in July 2022 and currently serves as the Executive Officer.
Major Holderbaum’s personal military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Major Holderbaum earned a BS in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a MA in Military Studies from Marine Corps University.