Brenda Holdener : Academy of Distinguished Engineers - 2013

B.S. Construction Engineering Management ’85 

Captain, United States Navy Inspector GeneralUnited States Transportation Command Scott AFB, Illinois Capt. Brenda Holdener enlisted in the United States Navy in 1978 and received a Navy ROTC scholarship to Oregon State University. Her first tour of duty was at Navy Manpower Engineering Center Detachment in San Diego. From there, Holdener has advanced through the ranks as a combat helicopter pilot, a navigator on the USS Kitty Hawk, a command center director for NORAD, and the commanding officer of the USS Wasp, among other assignments.“My construction engineering management degree was broad enough to help me excel as a helicopter pilot and a ship’s commanding officer,” says Holdener. “The engineering background made the technical aspects easy, and the business background kept me thinking about efficiencies in large organization management.” Holdener also earned her M.A. in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College, and a homeland security graduate certificate from University of Colorado.“I’ve been able to influence and lead 1,100 young men and women on a daily basis as the commanding officer of a ship,” says Holdener. “If I was able to help only one to reach their goals, then I was successful at my job.”