Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin T. Held is a native of Columbus, Indiana. He graduated from Purdue University in May 2008 and attended Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia, in the fall of that year. Following graduation and commissioning, he completed The Basic School and subsequently reported to 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion (2d AABn), Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, pending assignment to Assault Amphibian School at Camp Pendleton, California.
Following graduation from Assault Amphibian School in March 2010, Lieutenant Colonel Held began his assignment as the 3d Platoon Commander, Delta Company, 2d AABn. In April 2011, he deployed to Marine Forces Africa as a Tactics Advisor with Security Cooperation Task Force, Africa Partnership Station 2011. Upon returning to Camp Lejeune, he was assigned as the Executive Officer of Alpha Company, 2d AABn. He served in this billet until assuming command of Headquarters and Service Company, 2d AABn, in January 2012.
In May 2013, Lieutenant Colonel Held reported for duty as the Company Commander of Combat Assault Company, 3d Marine Regiment, Marine Corps Base Hawaii. In June 2015, he deployed to Darwin, Australia, as the Operations Officer for the Marine Forces Pacific Forward Coordination Element in support of Marine Rotational Force–Darwin. Upon returning, he served as the Assistant Current Operations Officer for Headquarters and Service Company, 3d Marine Regiment.
In June 2016, Lieutenant Colonel Held reported for duty as the Marine Officer Instructor for the University of Illinois Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. During this tour, he was promoted to his current rank and served in the additional billets of Operations Officer and Executive Officer.
In June 2019, Lieutenant Colonel Held reported for duty as the Future Operations Officer for the Office of Operations and Plans, Education Command/Marine Corps University. In June 2020, he deployed to Kuwait as the Operations Officer for the CJ-33 Directorate, Combined Joint Task Force–Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. Upon returning, he resumed his duties as Future Operations Officer until being assigned as a student at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in July 2021.
In July 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Held returned to 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as the Battalion Operations Officer and later assumed duties as the Battalion Executive Officer in November 2022. Upon completing this tour in July 2023, he reported for duty as the Staff Secretary for II Marine Expeditionary Force. He completed this assignment in July 2024 and forward deployed to Okinawa, Japan, with 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force, where he served as the Deputy G-3.
In 2025, Lieutenant Colonel Held redeployed to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as the Battalion Executive Officer for Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Installations East–Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. In July 2026, he assumed his current position as the Inspector-Instructor for 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division.
Lieutenant Colonel Held is a graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School and Command and Staff College Distance Education Programs, as well as the resident Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University, a Master of Studies in Law from the University of Illinois College of Law, and a Master of Military Studies from Marine Corps University.
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars in lieu of fourth award, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award.