Colonel Bob Hoidahl is a native of Calumet City, Illinois. He graduated from Purdue University in June 1973, with a bachelor of education degree, and a month later enlisted in the Regular Army.  He was initially assigned as a Military Policeman, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg. Upon graduation from Officer Candidate School, he received a reserve commission in January 1975.

After commissioning, he attended Infantry Officer Basic Course (IOBC), Pathfinder, and Ranger Schools and was assigned as a rifle platoon leader, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He continued to serve in the battalion as weapons platoon leader, heavy mortar platoon leader, and rifle company executive officer.  Upon completion of the Field Artillery Officer Advanced and Special Forces Qualification courses, Colonel Hoidahl served in the 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group as a detachment commander and battalion S-3 operations officer. Following his Special Forces assignments, he served as Antitank Company Commander, 1st Brigade, 82d Airborne Division and participated in Operation URGENT FURY as Aide-de-Camp, Commanding General, 82d Airborne Division. He was then reassigned to Fort Benning as Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

After his command in the Ranger Regiment, he became executive officer, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 507th Infantry and the U. S. Army Airborne School. Following graduation from Air Force Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, he served with Headquarters, Fourth U.S. Army, Deputy Chief of Staff for Training Directorate, Fort Sheridan. From Fourth Army he was reassigned to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Chaffee, as a special operations planner and executive officer, Plans/Exercise Maneuver Control division. After JRTC, he was reassigned to Fort Benning as Chief, Leadership Division, Combined Arms and Tactics Directorate, U. S. Army Infantry School. Colonel Hoidahl commanded 2d Battalion, 11th Infantry, IOBC, from February 1993 to 1995 and upon completion of command was assigned to Fort Sill, as Deputy Director, Fire Support and Combined Arms Operations Department, Field Artillery School.

Following attendance to the US Army War College, Colonel Hoidahl was assigned as Chief, Army Directorate, Office of Defense Cooperation Turkey (ODC Turkey) and subsequently served as Deputy Chief, ODC Turkey until 16 July 1999. Colonel Hoidahl became the Deputy Assistant Commandant of the U.S. Army Infantry School on 9 August 1999. He served in this position until 11 April 2001 on which date he took command of the US Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU). Colonel Hoidahl changed command of USAMU on 4 June 2003 and retired from active duty with 30 years of service on 31 July 2003.

His military education includes IOBC, Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course, Air Force Command and Staff College, and U.S. Army War College. He holds a Master of Arts in management from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri.

Colonel Hoidahl’s awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with “V” device (one Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (one silver Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (one Oak Leaf Cluster), and other expeditionary, defense, service, and professional development ribbons.  He has been awarded the Special Forces and Ranger tabs; Expert Infantry, Pathfinder, Master Parachutist and Military Freefall Jumpmaster badges; Excellence In Competition-Pistol, Marksmanship Badge; Canadian, Honduran, Spanish, and Sudanese Parachutist badges; and the Greek Daring Badge.