Joseph Parker Holt was born and raised in Washington DC. He expressed an interest in aviation at a very early age. When most boys his age were riding their bicycles up and down Q Street in Washington DC, Mr. Holt was building lavish airplane models. He was also a lover of everything military. He graduated from Armstrong High School in 1954 and while there was enrolled in its Junior ROTC program. Mr. Holt also enrolled in the Army ROTC program at Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) where he majored in Industrial Education. He graduated from Hampton University in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science Degree and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army’s Transportation Corps.

In anticipation of an Army flying career, Mr. Holt took flying lessons and his first solo flight was in an Aeronca Champion (7AC) in March 1959, at Newport News Airport in Virginia. Although his goal had been to fly military aircraft, he was informed by the Army that he was not medically qualified because he wore glasses. So Mr. Holt served with honor and distinction in the U.S. Army’s Transportation Corps and retired after 20 years with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

During Mr. Holt’s 20 years of military service, he served three tours of duty in the Republic of Vietnam. He also had many overseas and stateside command and staff assignments during his years of service. For appreciation of his military service Mr. Holt was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal; the Army Accommodation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters; the Bronze Star Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; along with many other metals and awards during his 20 years of service to his country.

Although he did not fly for the U.S. Army while serving on active duty, i.e., his first career, he did fly for the U.S. Army during his second career in which he earned his military wings. So after his retirement from the Army, Mr. Holt began working with the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDAC) at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey. Already a rated civilian pilot, in 1986 he received his military transition training in the Army U-21, Army C-12 and Army UH-1. After 25 years as the Chief Research and Development Test Pilot, Mr. Holt retired from CERDAC. As a two time retiree, he now spends his time volunteering at the Old Bridge Flight School in Old Bridge, New Jersey, which he owns with his wife Dr. Alyson Beausoleil-Holt.

Over the years Mr. Holt, FAA Certificate No. 1519928, has received the following FAA certificates and ratings:

 1. Certificate: Airline Transport Pilot
  A. Ratings:
   i. Airline Transport Pilot
    a) Airplane Single Engine Land
    b) Airplane Multiengine Land
   ii. Commercial Privileges
    a) Airplane Single Engine Sea
    b) Rotorcraft-Helicopter
    c) Instrument Helicopter
  B. Type Ratings:
    i. Airplane/Lear Jet

 2. Certificate: Flight Instructor
  A. Ratings:
   i. Flight Instructor
    a) Airplane Single and Multiengine
    b) Instrument airplane

 3. Certificate: Remote Pilot
  A. Ratings:
   i. Small Unmanned Aircraft System

 4. Certificate: Ground Instructor
  A. Ratings:
   i. Ground Instructor Advanced

 5. Certificate: FAA Designated Pilot Examiner

A professional truly dedicated to promoting aviation, Mr. Holt has been responsible for introducing countless young men and women to the field of aviation and also mentoring them in this field. As an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner for 30 years, he has issued many pilot certificates and ratings to many people, including people of color. Well known throughout the general aviation community in New Jersey, Mr. Holt has held both leadership positions and membership in numerous aviation based organizations. By way of example, he has been a continuing member of the Dr. Albert E. Forsythe Chapter of BPA, Inc. since its inception in 1997 and was before that a member of the Dr. Albert E. Forsythe Chapter NAI-NJ, Inc. He served a term as the president of the Dr. Albert E. Forsythe Chapter of BPA, Inc. and still serves as the flight operations officer for this organization. Mr. Holt is also a founding member of the Monmouth Area Flying Club and served as both its president and chief flight instructor for a number of years.

Mr. Holt has been active in and supportive of many activities and initiatives of the Black Pilots of America, Inc. (BPA), i.e., the national organization. Since its inception, he has attended and participated in Operation Skyhook held in Pine Bluff, Arkansas for all, except for approximately five, of these events. While at Operation Skyhook, he regularly participates as a judge for the spot landing and balloon burst competitions. In order to assure that BPA, Inc. had a successful Les Morris Summer Flight Academy, one year he made available at no charge an aircraft (Cessna 152) for use as a replacement for another aircraft that had been involved in an Incident while being used at this academy. More recently, he served as a member of the BPA’s Hall of Fame Committee and provided support and guidance for its initiative in establishing the BPA Hall of Fame and the procedures for inducting BPA members into this august body.

Mr. Holt is married to Dr. Alyson Beausoleil-Holt, a high school teacher and U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel serving in the New Jersey Army National Guard. Mr. Holt and Dr. Beausoleil-Holt reside in Jackson, New Jersey.