Spokesperson Bios

Capt. Josh Holden is a native of Hudson, Ohio, who currently resides in Georgetown, Tex.  He is a United States Military Academy at West Point graduate who has served in support Operation Iraqi Freedom in Mosul, Iraq from Dec. 2008 through Dec. 2009.  He has also played minor league baseball for the Class A (Advanced) Sarasota Reds, Class A Dayton Dragons and Rookie affiliate Gulf Coast League Reds and Rookie (Advanced) Billings Mustangs.

Holden was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army after graduating from West Point in May 2003.  While there, Holden played baseball and football, and upon graduation he was assigned as a graduate assistant for the West Point baseball team. He was then assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he served as platoon leader and fire direction officer.

In 2004, Holden attended a Cincinnati Reds open tryout and was signed to the organization becoming the first soldier to participate in the Alternative Service Option, which allows soldiers to be professional athletes while continuing to serve their country.

During his minor league baseball career, he played for the Rookie affiliate Gulf Coast League Reds, Rookie (Advanced) Billings Mustangs, Class A Dayton Dragons, and Class A (Advanced) Sarasota Reds. During that time, he also served as operations officer for U.S. Army Accessions Command, the recruiting arm of the Army, at Fort Knox, Ky.

At the conclusion of his baseball career, Holden returned to active duty joining the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. He served as a brigade battle captain and battalion S-9 (Civil-Military Operations) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Mosul, Iraq from Dec. 2008 through Dec. 2009. Since his return, Holden has served as assistant S-3 for the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Hood, Tex.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Iraqi Campaign Medal,  the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Parachutist Badge.