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Inducted October 2024
In recognition of Daniel Holsenbeck, Ph.D., for his decades of military service and leadership in Central Florida’s modeling, simulation and training (MS&T) community. Dr. Holsenbeck served in the Navy on active duty and in reserve status for over 30 years and retired as a captain. He played a significant role at the University of Central Florida for over 34 years, where he served five university presidents and helped secure facility-related projects that proved critical in protecting and growing Orlando’s MS&T community. Dr. Holsenbeck was a key leader who assembled diverse groups throughout the region to support community initiatives that secured state funding to construct perimeter security upgrades and create the campus now known as the Partnership Complex. His guidance at a crucial time in the MS&T community’s development was invaluable to establishing the collaborative spirit that is a defining trait of the “Team Orlando” ecosystem and has contributed to making Central Florida the world’s MS&T epicenter.
Dan Holsenbeck, Ph.D., was a retired Navy captain who served as vice president of university relations at the University of Central Florida (UCF). In this latter role, Holsenbeck was instrumental in securing several facility-related projects that were significant to protecting and growing the Central Florida modeling, simulation, and training (MS&T) community.
Originally from Georgia, Holsenbeck earned his bachelor’s degree in math with honors from Auburn University prior to commissioning in the Navy in 1964. While serving as an instructor and math director at the Navy Nuclear Power School, he earned his master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and earned his doctorate at Florida State University. He served on active duty and reserve status in the Navy for 30 years. During his time in the Navy Reserve, he held positions at Auburn University, Florida State University, Auburn University at Montgomery, the University of South Florida, and joined UCF in 1985 where his tenure lasted over 34 years. Holsenbeck served as a special advisor to the university president, and he was a key individual in getting UCF recognized as one of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges for Veterans.”
Holsenbeck bridged differences to assemble diverse groups throughout the region to support important community initiatives, such as perimeter security upgrades and the facilities that eventually became the Partnership Complex. His guidance at a crucial time in the MS&T community’s development was invaluable to establishing the collaborative spirit that is a defining trait of the “Team Orlando” ecosystem and has contributed to making Central Florida the world’s MS&T epicenter.
