Major Hollopeter was born in 1977 in Yuma, Arizona. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 1995. Following initial training, he was assigned to Company B, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and served as a LAV crewman and scout. In August of 1997 Lance Corporal Hollopeter was awarded a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship and subsequently left active duty to attended college.
Second Lieutenant Hollopeter was commissioned in May 2001. Following the Basic School and Infantry Officers Course he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3d Marines where he served as Rifle Platoon Commander, Weapons Platoon Commander, and Executive Officer for Company A. In 2003, 1/3 deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to the Southern Philippine Islands as part of the Joint Special Operations Task Force, Philippines. In November 2003, First Lieutenant Hollopeter was then assigned as the 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander. In July 2004, Battalion Landing Team 1/3 deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II and participated in Operation Phantom Fury (Al Fajr), the second battle of Fallujah and Operation Citadel 2 the first Iraqi National Elections.
In July 2005, Captain Hollopeter was assigned to Marine Combat Training, School of Infantry (West). During this tour, he served as a Company Executive Officer, Company Commanding Officer, and Battalion Operations Officer.
In May 2009, he was transferred to 29 Palms and served as the Commanding Officer for Company K, 3d Battalion, 4th Marines. In 2009, 3/4 deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and he was assigned to the Bakwa District, Farah Province, Afghanistan and participated in Operation Cobra’s Anger, the clearing of the Now Zad Valley. After deployment, he was assigned as the Battalion Operations Officer. In November 2010, 3/4 deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to the Upper Gereshk Valley, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Major Hollopeter holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Wisconsin and a Masters of Business Administration from Colorado State University. He is a graduate of Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia and Command and General Staff Course in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.