JUNE 2, 2025 – As Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, continues to rebuild and modernize, one of its own is doing the same — rebuilding strength, endurance and chasing dreams of Olympic gold.
For Air Force 2nd Lt. Braeden Holcombe, an engineering project programmer assigned to 325th Civil Engineer Squadron, the Air Force uniform means more than service — it’s a symbol of pushing beyond boundaries, whether in engineering projects or the Olympics.
Joint Pursuits
Holcombe manages construction projects during the day and dedicates himself to a vigorous training schedule after hours, in the hopes of winning Olympic gold.
As a project programmer, Holcombe is responsible for researching, developing and creating cost estimates for construction project managers and impacting the Tyndall rebuild efforts.
“Not only is he critical in sustaining our infrastructure, but he is key to our hurricane and disaster response as a base recovery team lead,” said Lt. Col. Allen Lewis, 325th CES commander. “His ability to perform in these roles while pursuing a career as an Olympic athlete is phenomenal.”
Athletic Roots
Originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Holcombe was recruited by the U.S. Air Force Academy for track and field during his junior year of high school. He credits his older brother and mother for his love of sports and says his family molded him into the athlete he is today.
“My mom let me do any sport I was interested in, and my brother would ride his bike and make me run 3 miles every single day. My brother became my coach, because he saw my athletic potential,” Holcombe said.
As a proud graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Holcombe has made his mark in the track and field athlete arena, where he assisted his team in winning multiple conference titles.
The decathlon that spans 10 events and requires strength, speed and endurance across sprints, jumps, throws and distance running is Holcombe’s specialty.
The work he put into the athletic achievements at the academy also laid the groundwork for his pursuit of becoming a member of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program and an Olympian.
Showing What Is Possible
WCAP is an initiative that allows active-duty airmen and guardians to train and compete at the highest levels of international sports, including the Olympic games, while continuing to serve.
Holcombe recently hit one of his biggest milestones, placing first in the National Combined Events Qualifier in Jacksonville, Florida, which will assist with his pursuit of the WCAP.
“When I’m at work, all I care about is being the best engineer I can be, but the same mentality goes for other aspects of my life, whether it is training, family or friends,” Holcombe said. “If I am there, I am in that moment and not thinking about the other areas. Separation is crucial for overall mental health.”
For Holcombe, the path to the Olympics isn’t about personal achievement, it’s about showing what’s possible when discipline, focus and commitment converge, whether on the track or in uniform.
“I am sincerely thankful to be a part of the Tyndall civil engineers; we are building the installation of the future,” Holcombe said. “There is no other installation in the entire DOD that is doing the things we are here, and being a part of that history is monumental.”
By Jennifer Jensen, 325th Fighter Wing