Lieutenant Colonel Joshua David Freedman was born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics. Upon graduation, LtCol Freedman was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and assigned to Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment in Hawaii.
Over the next 3 years, LtCol Freedman participated in deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and training exercises, where he gained valuable experience in diverse and challenging environments. Each opportunity was a learning experience that shaped his understanding of what it means to lead in complex situations, always prioritizing the welfare and success of his Marines.
In 2010, LtCol Freedman sought to broaden his scope of service by applying to Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC). After completing the assessment and selection process and Individual Training Course in 2012, LtCol Freedman was awarded the title Special Operations Officer, re-designated by the Marine Corps to Marine Raider Officer, and was assigned to 3rd Marine Raider Battalion.
From 2012 to 2015, LtCol Freedman served as a Team Commander with 3rd Marine Raider Battalion, where he had the honor of leading a specialized team of Raiders in support of a wide range of operational missions. In this role, LtCol Freedman had the privilege of deploying alongside some of America's finest men in the most demanding environments. His team executed numerous high-priority operations, often in austere and dynamic settings.
Post Team Command, LtCol Freedman was selected to be Aide-de-Camp to the MARSOC Commander, where he gained a deeper understanding of the strategic level of operations and was humbled by the demands placed upon senior level Commanders. LtCol Freedman attended the Naval Postgraduate School, where he earned a master's degree in computer science with a focus on Space Operations.
After completing his studies in 2018, LtCol Freedman had the privilege of serving as a Program Manager for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence at the MARSOC Component G8. In this position, he worked with talented individuals across the Marine Corps and SOCOM to improve communication and intelligence systems that are crucial for mission success.
In 2019 he was given command of Marine Special Operations Company (MSOC) N. In this capacity, he worked with an exceptional group of Marine Raiders to plan and execute critical missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
After Commanding MSOC N, LtCol Freedman was assigned to Joint Forces Headquarters Cyber Marines in 2021 where he was a plank-holder in the establishment of MARSOCs Cross-Functional Teams, Cyber Mission Elements and the first commander of Task Force X a joint unit under JFHQ-C (M) in support of SOCOM.
His personal decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Foreign Medal.