To the Fulton Sun
This week, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute bids farewell to Col. Ned C. Holt, ASPI’s U.S. Army War College Fellow for the 2019-20 class.
Just before COVID-19 impacted Canberra, ASPI was delighted to celebrate a milestone in Col. Holt’s career, marking the visiting fellows’ promotion from lieutenant colonel to colonel with a ceremony conducted by the Honorable Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr., the United States Ambassador to Australia.
Joining Col. Holt for this momentous occasion were three family members including his father, Joe Holt, stepmother, Virginia Young and younger brother, Dan Holt, all of whom had traveled more than 9,000 miles from their hometown of Fulton to be there. Fortunately, they were able to do some traveling within Australia before returning home just a week before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down international travel.
The ceremony was short and sweet but full of military protocol and emotion. In attendance were several ambassador-level officials, Australian Armed Forces general officers, the U.S. Embassy Staff and almost everyone from ASPI. After Ambassador Culvahouse published the promotion order and administered the U.S. Army Officer’s oath of office, Col. Holt’s father and brother pinned on the new rank making the promotion official. Having his family meet the ASPI team and present at the ceremony meant a lot to the new colonel.
Col. Holt has had a distinguished career as a U.S. Army logistics officer with more than 16 years of experience in the Indo-Pacific region. He has spent more than six years in Korea, five years in Hawaii, four years at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, a year in Australia and a deployment to Zamboanga, Philippines. This promotion is a culmination of more than 25 years of service in the U.S. Army that started in 1990 as a private first class in the Louisiana Army National Guard and includes four combat and operational deployments.
Col. Holt has been a valuable part of ASPI and will be greatly missed, however, we have no doubt he will continue to achieve in his new role in the Indo-Pacific Headquarters at Camp Smith, Hawaii. Col. Holt will be positioned there for the next three years as the J46, Chief of Logistics Plans, Exercises and Contracting.