A native of Edison, New Jersey, Col. Golden was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps upon graduation from Kean University in January of 1985. He was commissioned through the Marine Corps Platoon Leader’s Course (PLC).
Col. Golden attended The Basic School in Quantico, Va., in 1985. After completion of the Basic School, he was assigned to Ft. Sill, Ok. for the Field Artillery Officer’s Basic Course.
In February 1986, he was ordered to 10th Marine Regiment, Camp Lejeune, NC, where he held the billets of Forward Observer, Fire Direction Officer, Platoon Commander and Executive Officer for Battery D, deploying to the Mediterranean Sea with the 26th MAU in 1987 and UDP to Okinawa Japan in 1989.
In October 1989, Col. Golden was ordered to the 12th Marine Corps Recruiting District, Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA. There he was the Officer in Charge of the District Contact Team until March 1993.
Col. Golden was ordered back to Fort Sill for the Field Artillery Officer’s Advanced Course where he was Class Leader. Upon graduation in September 1993, he was assigned to 1st Battalion (Rein), 12th Marines to assume Command of Headquarters Battery.
Upon relinquishment of command, he was assigned the billet of Bn S-3A. In January of 1995, he assumed command of Battery C. Upon promotion to Major, Col. Golden was reassigned as the Battalion S-4 Officer.
In June of 1996, he reported to the 1st Marine Corps Recruiting District and assumed command of Recruiting Station Springfield, Massachusetts.
In June 1999, he relinquished command of the Recruiting Station and reported to the Naval War College in Newport Rhode Island. He graduated from the Naval War College in June 2000 with a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. Upon graduation, Col. Golden was ordered back to the 10th Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune, NC where he was assigned the billet of Executive Officer 1st Battalion, 10th Marines.
In June of 2001, he was promoted to Lt. Colonel. In July of 2001 he was ordered to Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune G-1 as the Deputy Director for Manpower. While at MCB he deployed to EUCOM J-33, Current Operations Branch, Stuttgart, Germany in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from Dec. 2001 until June 2002. He was ordered from MCB, Camp Lejeune in June of 2003 to 10th Marines.
In July of 2003, he assumed command of 1st Battalion, 10th Marines. He remained in command until June of 2005. He was ordered to Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL for TLS at the Air War College where he earned a second MA degree.
On 7 June 2006, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and ordered to US Forces Korea (USFK) as the Chief of current operations J33, Deputy Chief of current operations for United Nations Command (UNC) U33, and Combined Forces Command (CFC) CJ33, Seoul, Korea until June 2008.
Col. Golden took command of CATC Camp Fuji, Japan in June of 2008 and relinquished command in June of 2009. He was ordered to I MEF as the I MEB AC/S for operations (G-3), Camp Pendleton, CA. On 1 April 2010 he was reassigned as the I MEF (Fwd) Commanders Initiative Group (CIG) chief to lead the “stand up” of Regional Command Southwest (RC(SW)) a 2 star NATO HQ and deployed to Afghanistan in April 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon the “stand up” of RC(SW),June of 2010, he was assigned as the RC(SW) AC/S for Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) Development: C-10.
In June of 2011, Col. Golden reported to Marine Corps Recruiting Command, Quantico, VA. as the Chief of Staff.
Col. Golden’s personal decorations include: The Defense Superior Service Medal, The Legion of Merit, The Meritorious Service Medal (with three gold stars), The Joint Service Commendation Medal, The Navy Commendation Medal (with gold star), The Navy Achievement Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal and the Republic of Korea Order of National Security Samil Medal.
Col. Golden is married to the former Karen A. O’Brien of Evanston, Illinois. They are blessed with three beautiful children: Colleen (21), Elizabeth (19), and Robert IV (15).