Holden served more than 30 years in the public sector, as a Los Angeles City Councilman, California State Senator and as Assistant Chief Deputy to the Los Angeles County Supervisor. Holden served four consecutive terms on the Los Angeles City Council (1987 to 2003) representing the 10th District. Holden previously served four years as a California State Senate or (1974 to 1978) representing the 30th Senate District. Before entering politics, Holden spent 17 years as a design engineer in the aerospace industry where he was assigned to innovative projects, including the Surveyor Lunar Landing spacecraft mission. During that period, he worked for several aerospace companies, including Bell Laboratories, Hycon Corp., Litton Industries, Electro Optical Systems, GM Giannini and Hughes Aircraft. Holden is a U.S. Army Veteran having served in the Military Police Corps during World War II, stationed in Germany and Italy. He earned a Bachelors of Science in Applied Physics and a Masters of Science in Systems Engineering from West Coast University in Los Angeles. Nate Holden's son Chris Holden is currently serving as a City Councilman in Pasadena, California, and his son Reginald Holden is a Deputy Sheriff in Los Angeles County. Holden was born in Macon, Georgia and spent most of his childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Holden is retired from public office and is now a consultant based in Los Angeles, specializing in government affairs.