Steven S. Holt
U.S. Army Major (Ret.)
A Life of Service
Steven S. Holt devoted more than five decades of his life to service—first as a combat soldier and career officer in the United States Army, then as a public servant, financial advisor, and international humanitarian leader. His life reflects a consistent pattern of leadership, accountability, and service under demanding circumstances, carried forward across military, civilian, and humanitarian roles.
All accomplishments described in this biography are verifiable by official military orders, certificates, and professional records.
Foundations of Leadership
Steven Holt was raised in Beryl and Enterprise, Utah, where early experiences shaped a lifelong commitment to discipline, service, and leadership. He is the son of George Stanford Holt and Jeannine Harris Holt. During his high school years (1967–1969), he earned the rank of Eagle Scout, receiving three palms—Bronze, Gold, and Silver—and received the 50-Miler Award, Historic Trails Award, and Gold Quill Writing Awards.
As a senior at Enterprise High School in 1969, he earned first-place honors at both the Washington County and Utah State 4-H competitions with a presentation on Range Ecology, demonstrating early aptitude for leadership, research, and public speaking.
Enlisted Soldier and Combat Service in Vietnam
In 1970, Steven Holt was drafted into the United States Army and completed Basic Training and Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Lewis, Washington.
In 1971, he graduated from the U.S. Army Airborne (Paratrooper) School and the U.S. Army Pathfinder School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was subsequently deployed to Vietnam, serving from 1971 to 1972 as a Pathfinder crew member with the 145th Combat Aviation Brigade, headquartered at Long Binh.
Assigned to aviation operations supporting CH-47 Chinook helicopters of the 213th Aviation Battalion in Phu Loi, his responsibilities included air traffic control, sling-load coordination, and aerial resupply operations under combat conditions. He served exclusively as a Pathfinder crew member and did not pilot the aircraft. Operational areas included Tay Ninh, Nui Ba Den, and Loc Ninh.
He completed six combat parachute jumps in Vietnam, earned the Vietnamese Paratrooper Wings and has a total of nineteen parachute jumps during his military service.
During one mission, the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was riding was shot down by enemy fire approximately ten miles northwest of Nui Ba Den Mountain. He survived the crash and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.
In 1974, he returned to Fort Benning, Georgia and graduated from the U.S. Army Ranger School, Class 9-74, one of the Army’s most demanding leadership and endurance programs.
Recruiting Excellence and Commissioned Service
Following Ranger School, Staff Sergeant Holt was assigned as a U.S. Army Recruiter in Mesa, Arizona. In 1977, he earned the U.S. Army Gold Recruiter Badge and was recognized as the Western Region U.S. Army Recruiting Command Rookie of the Year, placing him among the top recruiters in the Army.
In 1978, he was selected for Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Adjutant General Corps.
Officer Leadership and Command
From 1979 to 1982, Lieutenant Holt served at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, as Chief, Administrative Services Branch, Postal Officer, and Provost Marshal (Military Police) Administrative Officer.
In 1983, he completed the Adjutant General Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, where he assisted in developing a forward-looking concept for Army personnel operations later briefed to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army.
From 1984 to 1985, Captain Holt served as Commanding Officer of the 4th Adjutant General Company, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), at Fort Carson, Colorado, commanding a 420-soldier unit, including the 4th Adjutant General Band. He led the unit through a highly successful Return of Forces to Germany (REFORGER), earning a Top Block Officer Evaluation Report.
He later served as Adjutant for the Second Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), during which the brigade earned one of its highest ratings at the National Training Center, at Fort Irwin, California.
Senior Service and Inspector General
From 1989 to 1990, Captain (Promotable to Major) Holt served as Director of Personnel and Community Activities (City Manager) at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, overseeing military and civilian community operations.
He was subsequently assigned to Alaska, where he served as Deputy Inspector General and later as Inspector General for the 6th Infantry Division (Light) at Fort Richardson. As Inspector General, he reported directly to the Commanding General and was promoted to Major during this Alaska assignment.
He retired from active duty in June 1993 at the rank of Major, completing 22 years of service, including a 16-month break for heart surgery and recovery between February 1972 and June 1973.
Military Promotions
1971 - Corporal
1974 - Sergeant
1977 - Staff Sergeant
1978 - Second Lieutenant
1981 - First Lieutenant
1983 - Captain
1991 - Major
Education and Professional Military Schooling
Steven S. Holt completed both civilian higher education and advanced professional military education during his career.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Brigham Young University (1983) and later earned a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University (1987).
His professional military education includes graduation from the U.S. Army Recruiting and Retention School (1975), Combined Arms and Services Staff School (1987), Command and General Staff College (1990), and the U.S. Army Inspector General School (1990).
Leadership and Financial Career
Following military retirement, Steven Holt served as Executive Director of the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission from 1993 to 1998. In this role, he reported indirectly to the Mayor of Anchorage and directly to nine mayorally appointed commissioners. He directed a professional staff that included a staff attorney, investigators, and administrative personnel, and oversaw the investigation and resolution of discrimination complaints within the Municipality of Anchorage.
In 1999, he began a third career as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones Investments. Over the next seventeen years, he built a successful practice, established the first Edward Jones office in Vernal, Utah, mentored new advisors, and later served as Branch Manager in Sun City–Summerlin (Las Vegas, Nevada). He earned Limited Partner status and received multiple production and travel awards before retiring in 2016.
Professional licensing records and selected historical reports from this period are available through publicly accessible regulatory and municipal sources.
International Humanitarian Service
From March 2018 to February 2020, Steven Holt served as Country Director for Latter-day Saint Charities in Hanoi, Vietnam. His wife, Sherry Ann Holt, accompanied him and supported the mission throughout their service.
Working with senior government and non-government leaders, he helped establish and expand:
National wheelchair distribution
Helping newborns breathe initiatives
Vision care programs
Clean water and school sanitation projects
Emergency humanitarian relief efforts
Legacy
Steven S. Holt’s life reflects service across generations and continents—under fire, in command, in public trust, and in humanitarian leadership.
Steven and his wife, Sherry, now retired, reside in Highland, Utah.