Jason Holden was born in Jacksonville, North Carolina in 1971. He graduated from Woodbridge Senior High School in Woodbridge, VA in 1989 and attended Virginia Tech, earning a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Sociology and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in July 1993. Lieutenant Colonel Holden subsequently completed initial officer training at The Basic School in Quantico Virginia and Flight Training in Pensacola Florida where he was winged a Naval Aviator in March 1996.
Lieutenant Colonel Holden reported to HMMT-204 aboard MCAS New River, NC for replacement aircrew training in the CH-46E. Upon completion of training in November 1996, he was transferred to HMM-163 at MCAS El Toro, California where he deployed in support of 5th Fleet Operations in the Arabian Gulf during Operation Desert Fox. In January of 2000 he was transferred to HMM-166 for deployment in support of Humanitarian Operations in East Timor. In July 2000, he was reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16 and served as the Group’s Weapons and Tactics Instructor.
During July of 2001 Lieutenant Colonel Holden was transferred to Pensacola Florida and assigned as a Flight Instructor in the T-34B at Fixed Wing Training Squadron SIX. During this period he served as the squadron’s Operations Officer while earning his Master’s degree in Business Administration and completing the Marine Corps Command and Staff Program.
In June of 2004 Lieutenant Colonel Holden was transferred to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204 for training in the MV-22B and assignment as the Advanced Tiltrotor Training Unit’s Operations Officer. In this capacity he planned and provided advanced MV-22 training for transition pilots assigned to the first three MV-22 squadrons. In March of 2007 he was reassigned as the squadron’s Standardization Department Head.
During June of 2007 Lieutenant Colonel Holden was transferred to MCAS Yuma, AZ and assigned as the MV-22 Division Head at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One. In that capacity he deployed to OIF in order to capture lessons learned from the first MV-22 combat deployment, and provided the fleet with their first combat tactics manual, supporting academic courseware, and a completely revised Training and Readiness (T&R) manual. Additionally, he developed and executed the first MV-22 Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course.
In June of 2010 Lieutenant Colonel Holden was reassigned to Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC), Department of Aviation for duty as the MV-22 Plans Officer. As the HQMC MV-22 lead he planned the transition of the remaining ten USMC CH-46E and CH-53D helicopter squadrons to the MV-22, including the first MV-22 squadron in Okinawa, Japan. Additionally, he assisted industry and the Joint Program Office in expanding the MV-22 business to the Army, Navy, and international customers.
In July 2012 Lieutenant Colonel Holden returned to MAG-16 aboard MCAS Miramar. After completing refresher training in the MV-22 at VMMT-204 he was assigned his current duties as the MAG-16 Operations Officer.
Lieutenant Colonel Holden's personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 2 Gold Stars and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 2 Gold Stars.